Try GOLD - Free
Magritte painting sells for record R2.1bn
The Citizen
|November 21, 2024
A painting by Rene Magritte shattered an auction record for the surrealist artist on Tuesday, selling for more than $121 million (about R2.1 billion) at Christie's in New York.
-
The seminal 1954 painting had been valued at $95 million and the previous record for a work by Magritte (1898-1967) was $79 million, set in 2022.
After a nearly 10-minute bidding war, Empire of Light ("L,Empire des lumieres") was sold for $121 160 ooo, "achieving a world-record price for the artist and for a surrealist work of art at auction", according to auction house Christie's.
This story is from the November 21, 2024 edition of The Citizen.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Citizen
The Citizen
Met field finalised tomorrow
BETTING: LAST YEAR’S CHAMPION EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN TOPS BOOKMAKERS’ BOARDS
2 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
How to build wealth in these turbulent, uncertain times
There is no question that we live in uncertain times.
1 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
Taxis get breathalysers
ROAD DEATHS: DEPT PLANS TOTAL BAN ON DRIVING AFTER DRINKING
2 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
DA in city power play
OUTRAGE: OVER 5 000 RESIDENTS SIGN PARTY'S PETITION OVER OUTAGES
2 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
'Struggling Spurs are hurting'
London Tottenham manager Thomas Frank said that the club's terrible run was “hurting so much” after they slumped to a 2-1 defeat against relegation-threatened West Ham on Saturday.
1 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
SA20 champs sent packing
Sunrisers Eastern Cape reclaimed top spot in the SA20 standings yesterday, while defending champions MI Cape Town crashed out.
1 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
Underarm serve 'to win, that's all'
Melbourne - Frenchman Corentin Moutet defended his tactics yesterday after serving underarm on match-point against home hope Tristan Schoolkate at the Australian Open.
1 min
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
Queen of hustles moves on up
LIVING IN A HYBRID WORLD: PERFORMING TO DIGITAL MARKETING AND BECOMING AN INFLUENCER
3 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
U-19s desperate to bounce back
South Africa’s Under-19 men's cricket team will be desperate to hit back with a bang when they take on Tanzania in their second group game at the U-19 World Cup in Windhoek today.
1 mins
January 19, 2026
The Citizen
Do we still need universities?
As matriculants get their results and the usual panic of choosing an institution of higher learning sets in, more young people could be asking, why.
2 mins
January 19, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size