Most expensive painting in the world

A 1932 painting by Pablo Picasso has set a world art auction record, selling for a staggering $US106.4 million. The Spanish master's painting, Nu au Plateau de Sculpteur (Nude, Green Leaves and Bust), had been expected to bring in $US70 to $US90 million but soared past that figure to eclipse the record set in February, when Alberto Giacometti's Walking Man I sculpture sold in London for $US104.3 million.

The large, sensual painting auctioned on Tuesday has been exhibited just once in public since 1961, and was a highlight of the collection of Frances Lasker Brody, a philanthropist from Los Angeles who died last year.


Photo: Nude Green Leaves, and Bust, a 1932 painting by Pablo Picasso.

The sale marked the beginning of New York's art auction season, and confirmed the renewed confidence of art dealers who said last week ahead of major spring auctions of Impressionist, modern and contemporary works that the financial crisis was largely behind them.