Portrait by Van Gogh sells for $40 million

A Vincent van Gogh portrait of a French cafe owner has sold for $40 million at auction, according to Christie’s, which handled the sale.

“L’Arlesienne, Madame Ginoux” had been owned by the same family since 1929, when it was bought by Dr. Harry Bakwin, a wealthy American pediatrician. An anonymous buyer purchased the portrait Tuesday for $40,336,000, Christie’s said.

The 1890 painting depicts Marie Ginoux, owner of a cafe in Arles, the city in the south of France where Van Gogh set up a studio. The artist painted five portraits of Ginoux; one was destroyed and three are in museums.

Also sold Tuesday was Pablo Picasso’s “Le Repos,” the artist’s portrait of his wife, Olga Khokhlova. The Gagosian Gallery bought the 1932 painting for $34.7 million, Christie’s said. Another Picasso work, “Portrait de Germaine,” went to the Acquavella Galleries for $18.6 million, the auction house said.