Eleven works of art, including nine paintings and two ceramics by Pablo Picasso, were sold for a whopping $ 110 million at auction at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Eleven Picasso works sold for $ 110 million at the Las Vegas Hotel // Reuters
The works have been on display at the hotel for two full decades, at a restaurant also named after the artist.
The collection of works expresses 50 years of work by the Spanish artist, which allows the public to take a look at the various stages of his artistic development process, and his understanding of the world.
The works for sale, Photo: Reuters
The award-winning painting was a portrait called "Woman in Red-Orange Brett," by Picasso model and partner Marie-Theres Walter.
The 1938 painting sold for $ 40.5 million, a sum significantly higher than the original estimates of its price, which ranged from $ 20-30 million.
Another 1959 masterpiece, called Man and Child, sold for $ 24.4 million.
According to the Sotheby's auction house, this work is an expression of the artist's peak of achievements, at an important stage in his artistic career.
The auction, Photo: Alan Schmidt, AP
Also sold were works painted by Picasso during World War II, a time when his works were very common.
For example, a painting called Still Life with a Basket of Flowers, from 1942, which sold for $ 16.6 million.
The person who collected the works for the hotel was his former owner and the huge billionaire, Steve Wayne - he owned many hotels and casinos in Las Vegas.
Wayne was very fond of art, and moved the Picasso collection to the hotel more than 20 years ago.
The Woman in Brett, Photo: Alan Schmidt, AP
Now, however, the hotel owners want to buy works by women and artists from a variety of cultures, and to that end, Picasso's prestigious collection has been sold.
However, Picasso's paintings are considered one of the pinnacles of 20th century art, and his works have won unprecedented prices.
11 works for $ 110 million, Photo: Berdyget Bennett / Reuters
Previously, the work Women from Algiers was sold for $ 179.4 million in 2015, and another work called A Young Girl with a Basket of Flowers - was sold in 2018 for $ 115 million.