Arts News
Picasso sets new art auction record: 106.5 million dollars
May 5, 2010, 13:23 GMT
New York - A 1932 painting by Pablo Picasso sold Tuesday night in New York for 106.5 million dollars, a new world record auction price for a work of art, the Christie's auction house announced.
The oil painting, Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur (Nude, Green Leaves and Bust), has Marie-Therese Walter, the artist's mistress in reclining and also in a bust. Picasso included his own profile in the blue background.
The winning bid came by telephone from an anonymous buyer. The price had been estimated at 70 million to 90 million dollars before the sale, and bidding began at 58 million dollars.
The auction price topped the record set in February of 104.3 million dollars for a Giacometti sculpture. That work, titled Walking Man I, sold in London at Sotheby's auction house.
