dick cole is president of christie's for europe the middle east russia and india. if anyone can explain why works of art can be so mind bogglingly expensive it's him. because it's not the value of an artwork is 1st and foremost its thetic value its cultural value and that's determined by art history and the canon and today there's a consensus that because it was an interesting artist. when someone buys a piece for such a crazy price is out of love for art of mine environment is that my experience the overwhelming majority of collectors we encounter i know personally are indeed interested in the art and not just in art as investment though of course there are investors as well versed on the work that fetched the highest price ever was sold at christie's in new york in 2017 salvator monday a portrait of jesus from around 1503 ascribed by some experts to leonardo da vinci . 200000000 is bid 2cw2cw who are limited to what the president did it may be a significant or even important work of art but it's also an investment it went to an anonymous better later revealed to