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Article: London sale brings big bucks and controversy. (Front Page).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Art in America
- Article date:
- September 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Brant Publications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A work attributed to Peter Paul Rubens, Massacre of the Innocents (1609-11), sold in London at Sotheby's July 10 sale of old master paintings for 49.5 million [pounds sterling] (approximately $76.7 million), far above its $14-million high estimate. British press reports say the buyer is Canadian media mogul David Thomson. The most expensive work ever bought at auction in Britain, the painting garnered the third highest auction price in history. Consigned by an anonymous Austrian collector, it was the highlight of a sale that brought $104.7 million, far in excess of the $78-million high estimate, and the largest total ever for a single auction of paintings in Europe.
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