I would like to know what's the History of Art's most expensive work, and what are the circumnstances surrounding it.

Perhaps you can find a suitable answer to this question in an article in About.com- portal, address . The Articles address is

In this Article (May 06, 2004) it is said that the most expensive piece of art ever, a painting by Picasso, namely "Boy with a Pipe", has been sold for a new record price, for $104 million at an auction at Sotheby's in New York. In this Article you will also find information about the circumnstances surrounding this painting.