Portrait of Ms Jenny, a 1939 oil painting by Xu Beihong, one of the most famous modern Chinese artists, was sold for 22 million yuan (US$2.7 million) to an unnamed buyer on November 6 at the autumn auction of Poly International Auction Co. Ltd. The price broke records for both Xu Beihong's paintings and Chinese oil paintings in general.

According to Poly International Auction Co. Ltd, the starting price was 9 million yuan (US$1.1 million), and only two bidders remained once the price reached 15 million yuan (US$1.9 million).

The previous record for a Xu Beihong painting was set by Jiuzhou Wushi Le Gengyun (Happily Farming in a Peaceful World), which was sold for 17.05 million yuan (US$2.1 million) on December 19 last year.

The highest recorded price for a Chinese oil painting before now was set this May in Hong Kong. The 10-meter-long and 2.8-meter-wide triptych Juin-Octobre 1985 by Paris-based Chinese artist Zao Wou-ki went for HK$18.04 million (US$2.31 million) at a Christie's auction.

When Xu Beihong was paid to paint Portrait of Ms Jenny, measuring 1.36 by 0.98 meters, in Singapore, he donated the money to help in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

The painting was appraised as authentic by Liao Jingwen, curator of Xu Beihong Museum, and other experts on September 15.

(China.org.cn by Chen Lin, November 10, 2005)