Modigliani Brings $9 Million

One of Amedeo Modigliani’s last paintings sold for a record $9 million today at an auction of Impressionist and modern art.

The oil painting, which set a record for the Italian artist, portrayed Greek composer Mario Vavoglis and was completed in January, 1920, days before Modigliani died in Paris at 36. An anonymous buyer purchased the simple painting, called “Portrait of Mario,” which had been put on the auction block by an anonymous owner. It had been estimated to sell for $3.7 million to $4.65 million. The previous record price for a Modigliani was $7.62 million, set in November for a portrait called “The Beautiful Roman.”