LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - A portrait of an unnamed woman by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt sold for 85.3 million pounds ($108.4 million) on Tuesday, setting a new record price for any work of art sold at an auction in Europe, London-based auction house Sotheby's said.
The fall of the hammer at 74 million pounds broke the tension, triggering a collective exhalation in the room and a round of applause.
The painting sold to a Hong Kong-based art advisory firm, bidding on behalf of a collector based there.
It is now the most expensive Klimt artwork sold at auction anywhere in the world.
It was last offered for sale nearly 30 years ago, when it was acquired by the family of the present owner for $11.6 million, according to the auction house.
Persons:
Gustav Klimt, Sotheby's, Helena Newman, Newman, Claude Monet's, Alberto Giacometti's, Farouq Suleiman, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Rosalba O'Brien
Organizations:
Thomson
Locations:
Austrian, Europe, London, Hong Kong