LONDON (REUTERS).- A Rembrandt painting unseen in public for nearly 40 years sold for a record 20.2 million pounds ($33.2 million) at auction in London on Tuesday, the highest ever paid at auction for the 17th century artist. Christie’s said that “Portrait of a man, half-length, with his arms akimbo”, painted in 1658, fetched the 4th highest-price paid at auction for any old masters painting. It was bought by an anonymous client bidding via telephone, Christie’s said. The record for a Rembrandt previously stood at 19.8 million pounds (then $29 million) in December 2000 for “Portrait of a lady aged 62.” The Rembrandt was the star lot in Christie’s auction of old masters and 19th century works, which have stood up relatively well during a financial downturn that has hit much of the rest of the world art market.