Top 10 most expensive works of art sold at auction - in pictures

Edvard Munch's The Scream (1895), auctioned at Sotheby's Sales of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary Art on 2 May 2012 in New York City. The masterpiece is one of four versions created by Munch and the only one that is privately owned. The painting sold for $119,922,500 Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

A visitor looks at Picasso's Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932), during a preview at Christie's in New York, 30 April 30 2010. The painting sold for $106,482,500 Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

A man walks behind L'homme qui Marche I (1961), by Alberto Giacometti at Sotheby's in London 12 January 2010. The sculpture sold for £65,001,250 ($105,182,398) Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Picasso's Boy With a Pipe (1905) on display at Sotheby's New York, 5 May 2004, prior to its auction. The painting sold for $104,168,000 Photograph: John Chapple/Rex Features

Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912), goes under the hammer at Christie's New York, 8 November 2006. The painting sold for $87,936,000 Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

A Sotheby's employee makes a final adjustment to Francis Bacon's Triptych (1976), on 14 April 2008 in London, England. The artwork sold for $85.9m to oligarch Roman Abramovich Photograph: Cate Gillon/Getty Images

This Chinese 18th century Qianlong dynasty porcelain vase, sold for £53,100,000 ($85,921,461) at Bainbridges auction house in London, 12 November 2010 Photograph: Bainbridge Auctioneers/PA

Dora Maar au Chat (1941) by Pablo Picasso, held by employees at Sotheby's in London on 22 March 2006. The painting sold for £51,560,080 ($83,429,503) Photograph: Geoff Caddick/EPA

Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet (1890) by Vincent van Gogh. This painting sold for $82,500,000 (£50,985,692) at Christie's in New York on 15 May 1990 Photograph: Alfredo Dagli Orti/Corbis

A woman stands in front of Claude Monet's Le Bassin aux Nymphéas (1919), at Christie's in London, 24 June 2008. The painting sold for £40,921,250 ($66,212,514) Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP