Botero sculpture fetches $1.7m in New York

NEW YORK (AP) ― Fernando Botero’s monumental bronze “Dancers” has fetched more than $1.7 million at a New York auction, setting a new record for a sculpture by the renowned Colombian artist.

The sculpture, which depicts a couple standing face to face, as if about to start a dance, was made in 2007 and bought directly from Botero.

It was acquired at the first session of Christie’s Latin American Art sale on Tuesday, by a private European buyer whose identity was not revealed.

The previous record for a sculpture by Botero was $1.6 million, achieved in 2007 also at Christie’s with 1986’s white marble piece “Mujer fumando,” or “Woman Smoking.”