From AP

Va. college gets $7M for Latin American painting

11 hours ago

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — The first of four paintings auctioned by Virginia's Randolph College to raise money has sold for more than $7.2 million.

Rufino Tamayo's "Troubadour" was bought Wednesday night by an anonymous telephone bidder at Christie's Latin American art auction.

Christie's spokeswoman Sung-Hee Park says the price is a record for the Mexican painter, who died in 1991.

Opponents to selling the paintings got an injunction to block the sale in November. But they dropped the case to focus on a court challenge to the former women's school's 2006 decision to go coed.

Randolph officials had estimated that "Troubadour" could bring $2 million to $3 million. They hope to get $50 million for the four paintings.

The liberal arts college of about 700 students is 95 miles west of Richmond.