The painting "Femme au béret rouge-orange", estimated between 20 and 30 million dollars, finally sold for over 40 million at a Sotheby's auction in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The works went under the hammer at the Bellagio hotel and casino, known for its extensive art collection, ahead of what would have been the Spanish painter's 140th birthday.
The jewel in the crown of MGM Resort's auctioned collection was "Femme au béret rouge-orange" one of the last portraits by the artist of Marie-Thérèse Walter, who he began an affair with when she was 17 years old, and inspired many of his most celebrated works.
It sold for nearly $40.5 million after a starting price was estimated at $20-30 million.
"Painted in January 1938, the portrait of his beloved muse Marie-Thérèse Walter stands as a crowning achievement amid one of Picasso's most inspired and productive periods," Sotheby's said in a Tweet.
#AuctionUpdate Closing out tonight’s sale, Femme au béret rouge-orange sells for $40.5 million. Painted in January 1938, the portrait of his beloved muse Marie-Thérèse Walter stands as a crowning achievement amid one of Picasso’s most inspired and productive periods #SothebysxMGM pic.twitter.com/v4sCY19pDE
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) October 24, 2021
Two iconic portraits from the last years of the painter's life were also sold: "Homme et enfant" -- for $24.4 million -- and "Buste d'homme" -- at $9.5 million -- which sold below its estimated starting price of 10 million.
Other works sold include ceramics, several works on paper and a number of still lifes.
