Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema's "The Finding of Moses" sold for $35.9 million. Photo: Courtesy Sotheby's

By Mackie Healy, Art Market Views Contributor

Following an eight minute bidding battle, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s cinematic The Finding of Moses sold for a record-setting $35.9 million this afternoon at Sotheby’s. The estimate was $3 million to $5 million. The anonymous buyer bid by phone.

The painting once belonged to Allen Funt, creator of the popular prank show Candid Camera. His collection of works by Alma-Tadema were exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1973, according to Sotheby’s.

The price paid for the large-scale depiction of the rescue of young Moses (the baby tucked in a basket) by the movie-star gorgeous Pharaoh’s daughter is a new benchmark for the 19th century classicist. Alma-Tadema’s previous auction record was set by the same canvas when it sold in 1995 for $2.8 million. The artist took two years to complete the work.

The painting sold during Sotheby’s 19th century European sale which tallied $61.5 million, with 73% of the 82 lots finding buyers.

Italian portrait painter Giovanni Boldini achieved an auction record as well. His Portrait of Giovinetta Errazuriz sold for $6.8 million, nearly four times its high estimate of $1.5 million.

The sale also featured two works from Demi Moore. William Bouguereau’s Frere et Soeur sold for $1,0852,500, just above the low end of the $1 – 1.5 million estimate. Moore’s Mere et ses Enfants by Alfred Stevens, estimated at $150,000 – $200,000, fetched $182,500.

The Top Ten:

1. The Finding of Moses, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema $35.9 million (est. $3 – 5 million) Anonymous Buyer
2. Portrait of Giovinetta Errazurlz, Giovanni Boldini 1829 $6.6 million (est. $1- 1.5 million) Anonymous Buyer
3. Portrait of the Artist Lawrence Alexander (“Peter”) Harrison, Giovanni Boldini 1902 $2.1 million (est. $1 – 1.5 million) American Private
4. After the Bath, Jean-Leon Gerome $1.5 million (est. $1- 1.5 million) Middle Eastern Private Collector
5. Avenue Parisienne, Jean Beraud $1.5 million (est. $700,000 – $1 million) European Private
6. Le Crabe, William Bouguereau 1869 $1.3 million (est. $700,000 – $1 million) Anonymous Buyer
7. Frere et Soeur, William Bouguereau 1887 $1.1 million (est. $1 – 1.5 million) American Private
8. Place de l’Europe, Jean Beraud $842,500 (est. $700,000 – $1 million) Private European
9. Golden Hours (Expectancy), John William Godward 1913 $746,500 (est. $500,000 – $700,000) American Private
10. The Inspection, Ludwig Deutsch 1883 $722,500 (est. $600,000 – $800,000) Middle Eastern Private