A Klimt Painting Makes a Splash at Auction

A Masterpiece Makes History

A painting by Gustav Klimt has just made headlines, selling for a staggering $236.4 million at Sotheby's in New York. This remarkable sale makes it the second most expensive painting ever sold at an auction.

The Painting

The artwork is a portrait of a young woman, elegantly dressed in a fancy Chinese dragon robe. Painted between 1914 and 1916, it is one of only two full-length portraits by Klimt still in private hands.

The Sale

The painting was part of a larger collection owned by a man named Lauder. The collection was sold in two parts, with the first part bringing in a total of $575.5 million.

Bidding War

The painting was estimated to sell for around $150 million, but the final price soared much higher. The bidding lasted for over 19 minutes, with excitement filling the room as the price climbed. The audience erupted in applause when the price hit $200 million.

Record Breakers

The most expensive painting ever sold at an auction remains "Salvator Mundi" by Leonardo da Vinci, which sold for $450.3 million in 2017. Klimt's portrait now holds the second place.

The Collection

The painting had been hanging in Lauder's apartment for nearly 40 years. The collection also included two other landscapes by Klimt, one of which sold for $86 million and the other for $68.3 million.

The Buyer

The buyer of the Klimt portrait remains unrevealed. The sale underscores the strength of the art market, even in challenging times, as people continue to invest heavily in famous paintings.