Van Gogh painting goes for $66.3 million at New York auction

A painting by Vincent van Gogh that dates from 1888 sold for $66.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on Tuesday. “L’Allée des Alyscamps,” which depicts an outdoor scene with trees and people, was purchased by a private collector from Asia, according to the auction house.

The sale didn’t break the auction record for a Van Gogh canvas, held by the artist’s “Portrait of Dr. Gachet,” which brought in $82.5 million in 1990.

Sotheby’s said it had projected “L’Allée des Alyscamps” to sell for more than $40 million.

Also on Tuesday, a Monet waterlilies painting dating from 1905 went for $54 million, beating pre-auction estimates of $30 million to $45 million. Two other Monets were sold -- “Le Palais Ducal,” a Venetian-themed canvas that brought in $23.1 million, and another waterlilies painting that sold for $20.4 million.

Tuesday’s auction of Impressionist and modern art rang up a total of $368.3 million in winning bids. It featured pieces from the private collections of the Goldwyn moviemaking dynasty as well as Jerome H. Stone, the Chicago businessman and philanthropist who died in January.

Two paintings from the Goldwyn collection were offered for sale -- a Picasso canvas, “Femme au chignon dans un fauteuil” (Woman with a hairbun on a sofa) that brought in $29.9 million, beating estimates; and a Matisse painting “Anémones et Grenades” (Anemonies and Pomegranates) that brought in $6.1 million, in line with estimates.

The auction was part of a spring auction season in New York that will feature some highly coveted works, including the Alberto Giacometti sculpture “L’homme au doigt” (Pointing Man), which will be offered at Christie’s on May 11. The auction house estimates that it will sell for around $130 million.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT