LONDON (Reuters Life!) - Sotheby's sold a view of Venice by Francesco Guardi for 26.7 million pounds ($42.9 million) on Wednesday, and said it was the highest price for any work of art sold at an international auction house this year.
The price eclipsed the $35.9 million paid for a George Stubbs horse painting on Tuesday at rivals Christie's.
"Venice, a View of the Rialto Bridge, Looking North, from the Fondamenta del Carbon" was executed by the Venetian artist in the late 1760s and is one of four monumental paintings generally considered to be his masterpieces.
The new record for any Venetian view painting at auction helped Sotheby's raise 47.6 million pounds overall from its old master and British paintings evening sale, compared with pre-auction estimates of 31.1-48.1 million pounds.
The estimates do not include buyers' fees whereas the sale prices do.