1)… Picasso has been sold for $55.6 million at 2)… auction – 3)… new record for 4)… painter’s work. 5)… painting from 6)… Picasso’s blue period was bought by 7)… anonymous telephone bidder. 8)… price paid for 9)… painting, which shows 10)… woman with her arms folded, made it 11)… fifth most expensive work ever sold at 12)… auction of this kind and 13)… most expensive Picasso so far. Yesterday, in what was largely 14)… rather disappointing sale, Christopher Burge, 15)… Honorary Chairman of Christie’s America, said: “It is 16)… best blue period portrait that has been up for 17)… sale at 18)… least since 19)… Fifties.” 20)… sale took in 21)… total of $150 million, far below 22)… pre-sale estimate. With only 58 per cent of 23)… pictures sold, it turned out to be one of 24)… poorest performances for 25)… Impressionist auction in many years.
