Introduction

Bronze sculptures have been prized for centuries for their beauty, durability, and rarity. As a result, some of the most expensive works of art in the world are made of bronze. In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 most expensive bronze sculptures ever sold at auction.

These bronze sculptures for sale represent a wide range of artistic styles and periods, from ancient Greek masterpieces to modern works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti. They also command a wide range of prices, from a few million dollars to over $100 million

So whether you are a fan of art history or simply appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted bronze sculpture, read on to learn more about the top 10 most expensive bronze sculptures in the world.

“L’Homme qui marche I” (Walking Man I) $104.3 million

(L’Homme qui marche)

First on the list is L’Homme qui marche, (The Walking Man). L’Homme qui marche is a large bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti. It depicts a striding figure, with elongated limbs and a gaunt face. The sculpture was first created in 1960, and it has been cast in several different sizes.

he most famous version of L’Homme qui marche is the 6-foot-tall version that was sold at auction in 2010 for $104.3 million. This is the highest price ever paid for a sculpture at auction.

L’Homme qui marche was created by Giacometti in his later years when he was exploring the themes of alienation and isolation. The sculpture’s elongated limbs and gaunt face have been interpreted as a representation of the human condition, and it has become a symbol of existentialism.

L’Homme qui marche is currently located in the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland. It is one of the most iconic sculptures of the 20th century, and it is a testament to Giacometti’s mastery of form and expression.

The Thinker ($15.2 million)

(The Thinker)

The Thinker is a bronze sculpture by Auguste Rodin, conceived initially as part of his work The Gates of Hell. It depicts a nude male figure of heroic size sitting on a rock. He is seen leaning over, his right elbow placed on his left thigh, holding the weight of his chin on the back of his right hand. The pose is one of deep thought and contemplation.

The Thinker was first exhibited in 1888 and quickly became one of Rodin’s most famous works. There are now over 20 casts of The Thinker in public collections around the world. The most famous cast is located in the gardens of the Musée Rodin in Paris.

The Thinker has been sold for a number of high prices. In 2013, a cast of The Thinker sold for $20.4 million at auction. In 2017, another cast sold for $15.2 million.

The Thinker was created in 1880, and it is now over 140 years old. It is made of bronze, and it is approximately 6 feet tall. The Thinker was created by Auguste Rodin, who is one of the most famous sculptors in history. Rodin’s other famous works include The Kiss and The Gates of Hell.

The Thinker is now located in a number of different places around the world. The most famous cast is located in the gardens of the Musée Rodin in Paris. Other casts of The Thinker can be found in New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Nu de dos, 4 état (Back IV) ($48.8 million)

(Nu de dos, 4 état (Back IV))

Another astonishing bronze sculpture is Nu de dos, 4 état (Back IV), a bronze sculpture by Henri Matisse, created in 1930 and cast in 1978. It is one of four sculptures in the Back series, which are among Matisse’s most famous works. The sculpture depicts a nude woman from behind, her body rendered in simplified, curvilinear forms.

The sculpture was sold at auction in 2010 for $48.8 million, setting a record for the most expensive work of art by Matisse ever sold. It is currently owned by an anonymous private collector.

The sculpture is 74.5 inches tall and is made of bronze with a dark brown patina. It is signed with Matisse’s initials and the number 00/10, indicating that it is one of ten casts made from the original model.

Nu de dos, 4 état (Back IV) is considered to be one of the masterpieces of modern sculpture. It is a powerful and evocative work that captures the beauty and grace of the human form.

Le Nez, Alberto Giacometti ($71.7 million)

(Le Nez)

Le Nez is a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti, created in 1947. It is a bronze cast of a human head with an elongated nose, suspended from a cage. The work is 80.9 cm x 70.5 cm x 40.6 cm in size.

The first version of Le Nez was exhibited at the Pierre Matisse Gallery in New York in 1947. It was later acquired by Alberto Giacometti-Stiftung in Zurich and is now on long-term loan to the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland.

In 2010, a cast of Le Nez was sold at auction for $71.7 million, making it one of the most expensive sculptures ever sold.

The sculpture is a powerful and disturbing work that has been interpreted in many different ways. Some critics have seen it as a representation of the alienation and isolation of modern man, while others have interpreted it as a more literal depiction of a man with a very large nose.

Le Nez is a significant work in the history of modern sculpture, and it continues to be a source of fascination and debate today.

Grande Tête Mince ($53.3 million)

Grande Tête Mince is a bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti, created in 1954 and cast the following year. It is one of the artist’s most famous works and is known for its elongated proportions and its hauntingly expressive features.

(Grande Tête Mince)

The sculpture was sold at auction in 2010 for $53.3 million, making it one of the most valuable sculptures ever sold. It is currently owned by an anonymous private collector.

Grande Tête Mince is 25.5 inches (65 cm) tall and weighs 15.4 pounds (7 kg). It is made of bronze and is signed and numbered “Alberto Giacometti 3/6″.

La Muse Endormie ($57.2 million)

(La Muse endormie)

La Muse endormie is a bronze sculpture created by Constantin Brâncuși in 1910. It is a stylized portrait of Baronne Renée-Irana Frachon, who posed for the artist several times in the late 1900s. The sculpture depicts a woman’s head, with her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open. The features are simplified and abstracted, and the surface of the bronze is highly polished.

La muse endormie has been sold several times at auction, fetching record prices for a work of sculpture by Brâncuși. In 1999, it was sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s in New York. In 2010, it was sold for $57.2 million at Sotheby’s in New York. The current whereabouts of the sculpture is unknown, but it is believed to be in a private collection

La Jeune Fille Sophistiquée ($71.3 million)

(La Jeune Fille Sophistiquée)

La Jeune Fille Sophistiquée is a sculpture by Constantin Brancusi, created in 1928. It is a portrait of the Anglo-American heiress and writer Nancy Cunard, who was a major patron of artists and writers in Paris between the wars. The sculpture is made of polished bronze and measures 55.5 x 15 x 22 cm

It was made a bronze sculpture for sale for the first time in 1932 at the Brummer Gallery in New York City. It was then acquired by the Stafford family in 1955 and has remained in their collection ever since.

La Jeune Fille Sophistiquée has been sold twice at auction. In 1995, it was sold for $2.7 million. In 2018, it was sold for $71.3 million, making it one of the most expensive sculptures ever sold.

The sculpture is currently located in the private collection of the Stafford family. It has never been exhibited in a museum.

Chariot ($101 million)

Chariot is a large bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti that was created in 1950. It is a painted bronze sculpture that depicts a woman standing on two high wheels, reminiscent of those of an ancient Egyptian chariot. The woman is very thin and elongated, and she appears to be suspended in mid-air

(Chariot)

The Chariot is one of the most famous sculptures by Giacometti, and it is also one of the most expensive. It was sold for $101 million in 2014, which made it the third most expensive sculpture ever sold at auction.

The Chariot is currently on display at the Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland. It is one of the most popular works of art in the museum’s collection.

L’homme Au Doigt ($141.3 million)

(L’homme Au Doigt)

The mesmerizing L’homme Au Doigt is a bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti. It is a depiction of a man standing with his finger pointing upwards. The sculpture is known for its elongated, stylized figures and its existentialist themes

L’homme Au Doigt was created in 1947 and is one of six casts that Giacometti made. It was sold for $126 million, or $141.3 million with fees, in Christie’s 11 May 2015 Looking Forward to the Past sale in New York. The work had been in Sheldon Solow’s private collection for 45 years.

The current whereabouts of L’homme Au Doigt is unknown. It is believed to be in a private collection.

Spider (Bourgeois) ($32 million)

Last on the list is the Spider (Bourgeois). It is a large bronze sculpture by Louise Bourgeois. It is one of a series of spider sculptures that Bourgeois created in the 1990s. The sculpture is 440 cm × 670 cm × 520 cm (175 in × 262 in × 204 in) and weighs 8 tons. It is made of bronze and steel.

The spider is a symbol of Bourgeois’ mother, who was a weaver and a tapestry restorer. The sculpture is said to represent the strength, protection, and creativity of mothers.

BlSpider (Bourgeois) has been sold for several million dollars. In 2019, it was sold for $32.1 million, which set a record for the most expensive sculpture by a woman. The sculpture is currently on display at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow.og

(Spider)