Jasper Johns flag piece sells for record $36 mln
The artist's previous record was 28.6 million dollars -- also for one of his flags -- back in 2010.
New York (AFP) - One of contemporary artist Jasper Johns well-known pieces depicting an American flag sold at auction for a record 36 million dollars, Sothebys announced.
The 30 by 45 cm (12 by 18 inch) piece "Flag" was painted in 1983 by Georgia-born Johns, who is now 84. It on Tuesday by far topped predictions that it might sell for about 20 million.
The artist s previous record was 28.6 million dollars -- also for one of his flags -- back in 2010.
The other star of the night was Mark Rothko s abstract "No. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange)" which was sold for 44.96 million dollars as collectors jostled for control of the work by the Latvian-born American painter.
On Monday, two of his works sold for a hefty $76.5 million also at Sothebys.
