# $86.3 Million Paintings Triptych by Francis Bacon By Elsa Blaine | Published 2008-05-18 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/worlds-most-expensive-contemporary-art-863-million-bacon-triptych References: [nytimes](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/15/arts/design/15auction.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss) [Sotheby's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collectible-art) estimate that ***Triptych***, created by the late **Francis Bacon** would fetch $70 million was surpassed by over $16 million. The sale of Triptych became, “the most expensive work of contemporary art ever [sold at auction](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joopiter) and a retort to doom-sayers who had predicted that the art market would falter seriously this season because of broad economic anxieties,” said Carol Vogel, New York Times' Art & Design writer. Triptych, painted in 1976, was hailed by Sotheby's as “a landmark of the 20th-century canon.” The piece is not slight, it consists of three 78” x 58” oil on canvas panels. Bacon seems to be the current hot commodity in the art community these days – nine of his paintings have each sold for over $25 million during the past year. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 38% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Ultra Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/ultraluxury) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **$86.3 Million Paintings:** Opportunity for artists to create high-value artworks that break auction records. - **Triptych by Francis Bacon:** Increasing demand for artworks by Francis Bacon, driving up their value. - **Expensive Contemporary Art:** Growing market for contemporary art with prices exceeding $25 million per painting. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Art Market:** Potential for artists and auction houses to profit from the rising value of contemporary artworks. - **Fine Art:** Opportunity for artists to create valuable works that captivate collectors and investors. - **Auctions:** Auction houses can benefit from the high demand and escalating prices of contemporary artworks. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Snack Artwork Auctions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mischief-by-chester.md) - [Modern Art Design Auctions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-auction.md) - [Charitable Low-Cost Art Raffles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1-picasso-for-100-euros.md) - [Medicine-Inspired Artful Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/something-for-the-pain.md) - [Archival Pigment Art Print](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parallax.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [Painterly Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/7-paintings-the-art-of-dining.md) - [Painter-Inspired Afternoon Teas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/david-hockney-afternoon-teas.md) - [Graffiti Culture Art Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/1970s-graffiti-today.md)