Art market sales are surging worldwide thanks to interest from buyers in China and Russia. In just the first six months of 2006, Christie’s reports they made 2.1 billion dollars. Notable sales include the highest ever price paid for a painting, a Gustav Klimt portrait selling for $135 million.

The Blue Rigi

This recent JMW Turner watercolor on paper sold for nearly 11 million, a record price for a painting on paper.