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'Missing' portrait of Aussie outlaw Ned Kelly posts record price

A painting of the famed bank robber and bushranger Ned Kelly has sold for 5.4 million dollars (4.9 million US), smashing the previous record for an Australian artwork sold at auction.

Sidney Nolan's "First Class Marksman", which shows the outlaw in his iconic homemade armour and pointing a rifle, was known as the "missing Nolan" because it is the only one in a series of 27 not at the National Gallery of Australia.

The 1946 canvas was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder late Thursday.

"We are thrilled to have achieved this new Australian art auction record," said Rod Menzies, of auction house Menzies Art Brands in Sydney....
Read entire article at AFP