The 15 Most Expensive Artworks Ever Sold at Auction

Auction records make for great headlines. There’s a thrill in watching numbers climb into the stratosphere, each sale another reminder that, in the art market, money has a way of bending reality. But the price of a painting has never been the most interesting thing about it.Look at the list of the most expensive artworks ever sold at auction, and you’ll see more than just a parade of billionaires with good taste (or at least expensive taste). You’ll see a history of ideas&mdash