Paintings by Numbers

By Hillary Batchelder

The record-breaking sale of a Rembranbt for $2.3 million caused a stir in 1961, but adjusted for inflation, that's only $15.6 million today. Only? Makeup mogul Ronald Lauder last week paid $135 mil for this glittering Klimt, setting a new all-time high for a painting. Here's a gallery of other works that have held the title.

2006 $135 MILLION Gustav Klimt Adele Bloch-Bauer I

2004 $104.1 MILLION Pablo Picasso Boy with a Pipe

1990 $82.5 MILLION Vincent van Gogh Portrait of Dr. Gachet

1987 $53.9 MILLION Vincent van Gogh Irises

1987 $39.9 MILLION Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers

1985 $12 MILLION Andrea Mantegna Adoration of the Magi

1980 $7 MILLION J.M.W. Turner Juliet and Her Nurse 1970 $5.5 MILLION Diego Velazquez Portrait of Juan de Pareja 1961 $2.3 MILLION Rembrandt van Rijn Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer