The hammer came down at 19.5 million euros. With fees, the total was about 24.2 million euros.
It was the most expensive painting made before 1500 ever sold at auction. “To finish at €24,180,000 is more than we could have dreamed of,” said Dominique Le Coent, head of the auction house.
The buyer was anonymous. But the French government was not ready to let the painting go.