NEW YORK, NY (REUTERS).- Sotheby’s hopes that the
fervent mood at an auction this week in London of important Old Master paintings
will travel overseas when several rare art works will be auctioned next
month. The fragile state of the world economy didn’t influence the few
deep-pocketed art collectors who vied for rare 17th century masterpieces in the
British capital on Wednesday. Sotheby’s sale of Old Master & British
Paintings in London saw a new auction record set for Anthony van Dyck when his
last self portrait soared above expectations and sold for$13,521,704. The
portrait, hotly pursued by nine bidders, was the top-selling lot in a sale which
raised $24,510,499, within pre-sale expectations.