At $106.5 Million, a Picasso Sets an Auction Record

A painting that Picasso created in a distinct day in March 1932 became the best big-ticket assignment of art anytime awash at bargain on Tuesday night.

In an overflowing salesroom at Christie’s, six bidders vied for “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust,” which depicts the artist’s bedmate Marie-Thérèse Walter, collapsed naked. Back the canvas aftermost afflicted hands, in 1951, it awash for $19,800. But this time, “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” brought $106.5 million.

For 8 account and 6 seconds, behest rose steadily, with bristles bodies still aggressive at $80 million. Nicholas Hall, of Christie’s old adept paintings administration in New York, took the acceptable bid for an anonymous buyer.

“Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” bankrupt the almanac set a few months ago by “Walking Man I” — one of Alberto Giacometti’s signature brownish sculptures. It brought $104.3 actor at Sotheby’s in London in February. Picasso had reigned afore that back “Boy With a Pipe (The Young Apprentice),” a 1905 canvas from the artist’s Rose Period, awash for $104.1 actor at Sotheby’s in New York in 2004.

“Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” is advised a seminal assignment from a aerial point of Picasso’s career. Afore the auction, experts at Christie’s carefully talked about a amount about $80 million. On Tuesday night, Edward Dolman, Christie’s arch executive, said, “The bazaar is abundant stronger than we expected, with abyss of affairs from Russia, China and the Middle East.” Mr. Dolman said best of the top works were bought by collectors active alfresco the United States.

Of the 69 works on offer, 13 bootless to sell. The auction totaled $335.5 million. It had been accepted to accompany $262.7 actor to $368 million. Final prices accommodate the buyer’s agency to Christie’s: 25 percent of the aboriginal $50,000, 20 percent of the abutting $50,000 to $1 actor and 12 percent of the rest. Estimates do not reflect commissions.

“Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” was actuality awash from the acreage of the Los Angeles philanthropist Frances Lasker Brody. Mrs. Brody, who died in November, was the wife of Sidney F. Brody, a absolute acreage developer who died in 1983. The Brodys’ Modernist abode in the Holmby Hills adjacency was a advertise for their collection.