Sotheby 's forthcoming sale of al Modigliani 's Nu couché ( sur le côté gauche ) could break the current $ 170.4 m record for the artist when it went under the hammer next month , reflecting a booming market for high - end artworks . It followed last year 's sale of Leonardo da Vinci 's il Mundi , which went for $ 450 m , making it the most expensive work of art to ever be sold at auction . Following a 30 % decline in the average price of top - priced artworks following the financial crisis , the market has risen by 50 % , according to Sebastian Duthy , director of market research firm Art Market Research . while art investment remains popular , the top of the market will " likely to continue to soar " .
Sotheby's forthcoming sale of Amedeo Modigliani's Nu couché (sur le côté gauche) could break the current $170.4m record for the artist when it goes under the hammer next month, reflecting a booming market for high-end artworks. It follows last year's sale of Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, which went for $450m, making it the most expensive work of art to ever be sold at auction. Following a 30% decline in the average price of top-tier artworks following the financial crisis, the market has risen by 50%, according to Sebastian Duthy, director of market research firm Art Market Research. Provided art investment remains popular, the top of the market will "likely to continue to soar".