Portraits, those intimate captures of the human spirit, possess a unique power to transfix and transcend time. Yet, with world of art auctions serving as a realm of hidden treasures and jaw-dropping prices, it's not always the size of the canvas or the sparkle of jewels that commands the highest bids. In the thrilling history of art sales, ten extraordinary portraits stand out, their subjects and stories captivating audiences and shattering records.

From the tensing grin of Kurt Cobain’s self-drawn masterwork, to a Paul Bedard mashup depicting defiant gazes of revolutionary icons behind Aviator shades, portraits offer intimate glimpses into the past. They can be windows into the souls of long-gone figures, preserving the fleeting expressions and emotions that once animated their faces. These artworks hold the stories of artists and their muses, of patrons and their ambitions – and whisper tales of bygone eras – their fashions, their values, their unspoken truths.