At a Sotheby’s auction in Sydney last night, The Old Time by artist John Brack sold for $2.8 million – $3.3 million including the buyer’s premium.

Another Bracks painting, The Bar, held the previous record of $3.1 million.

While the Brett Whiteley painting Opera House did not fetch an expected $3 million, it still broke the record for a Whiteley painting, with an unknown buyer picking it up for $2.8 million.

Whiteley took more than 10 years to complete the pic, which he gave to Qantas in exchange for some free travel.

Sotheby’s chair in Australia, John Miller, said while Whiteley paintings were auctioned “on a regular basis”, Opera House had never been to market before.

Posted: 05|8|07 at 1:19 pm. Filed under: Auction News.