Most expensive work auctioned by Fernando Botero

Fernando Botero, what was the most expensive work auctioned by the Antioquian artist?

Bloomberg Line 'investigated how much the prices of his works could increase after his death.

Óscar Mauricio Ochoa, an art dealer in charge of managing collections of direct owners of works by the master Botero, revealed to the aforementioned media that he has already received calls from several of them informing him that an increase in the prices of the works of between a 20% and 25%.

"For example, a work I own, currently valued at US$600,000, could increase by a minimum of US$120,000, reaching a total of US$720,000," (more than 2.8 billion pesos today).
Botero's best-selling works

According to the Duque Arango gallery, these are the best-selling works by the master Fernando Botero:

'Man on Horse' - US$4.3 million

The 'Man on Horseback' is the most expensive work of the late artist.

On March 11, 2022, at an auction by the British house Christie's, Fernando Botero set a new record by becoming the living Latin American artist with the work of art sold for the highest price, with the sculpture 'Man on Horseback' reaching a total of 4.3 million dollars.

Initially, this piece had an estimated value between US$2 and US$3 million, but after ten minutes of auction, its final price exceeded US$4 million.

It is a memory of a photo of his father riding a mule. This is a 3.5 meter high sculpture. It is currently exhibited in the Botero Museum and is made of bronze.

'The Musicians' and 'The Four Musicians' - US$2.1 million

In May 2006, Botero's paintings 'The Musicians' (1979) and 'The Four Musicians' (1984) were auctioned for a total of US$2.1 million at a Christie's auction, becoming his most expensive canvases up to that time.

The painting of 'The Musicians' had not been available to collectors for more than 20 years, which contributed to the high sale price.

'A family' - US$1.4 million

This work was sold during a Latin American art auction held by Sotheby's in 2011. At that time, this auction also set the record for the highest grossing sales in a Latin American auction.