VOA慢速英语2017 Leonardo da Vinci Painting Sells for Record $450 Million

 

A painting of Jesus Christ by Leonardo da Vinci has sold for a record $450 million. That is the most money ever paid for an artwork.

达芬奇的一副耶稣画像以创纪录的4.5亿美元成交，这是有史以来成交价最高的艺术作品。

The painting is called “Salvator Mundi,” Latin for “Savior of the World.” It is one of fewer than 20 works by the Renaissance¹ painter known to exist. It sold at an auction² on Wednesday.

这副画作名为《救世主》，它是达芬奇这位文艺复兴时期画家已知存世的不到20副画作之一。该画作于周三在拍卖会上售出。

Before Wednesday, the highest-known sale price for any artwork had been $300 million for Willem de Kooning’s painting “Interchange.” Businessman Kenneth C. Griffin bought it in a private sale in 2015.

在周三之前，售价最贵的艺术作品是威廉·德库宁（Willem de Kooning）的画作《交换》，售价达到了3亿美元。商人肯尼思·C·格里芬（Kenneth C. Griffin）于2015年在一场私人交易中将它收入囊中。

A Pablo Picasso’s painting “Les femmes D’Alger” held the previous record for artwork sold at auction. It was sold in 2015 for over $179 million.

毕加索的画作《阿尔及尔的女人》保持了艺术品的上个拍卖价记录。该画作于2015年以1.79亿美元售出。

The sale of the da Vinci painting took place at Christie’s auction house in New York City. Bidding for the piece opened at $75 million. The bidding lasted 19 minutes.

达芬奇这副画作在纽约市佳士得拍卖行举行拍卖，这次拍卖起价7500万美元，历时19分钟。

People inside Christie’s cheered as the hammer came down to mark the end of bidding. The record sale price includes money that the unnamed winner must pay to the auction house.

随着这次拍卖的落槌敲定，佳士得拍卖行里的人们高声欢呼。这一创纪录的售价包括匿名买家必须向拍卖行支付的费用。

Jussi Pylkk?nen was the auctioneer and is Global president of Christie's. He told the Reuters news agency, “It was a moment when all the stars were aligned³, and I think Leonardo would be very pleased.”

尤西·皮尔卡宁(JussiPylkk?nen)是佳士得拍卖公司的全球总裁和拍卖师。他对路透社表示：“这是群星闪耀的一刻，我想达芬奇也会非常高兴。”

The 66-centimeter-tall painting dates to around 1500. It shows Jesus dressed in Renaissance-style clothing. His right hand is raised in blessing⁴ and his left hand holds a crystal ball.

这副66厘米高的画作可以追溯到1500年左右，画中耶稣穿着文艺复兴时期风格的服装。他的右手以赐福的手势举起，左手拿着水晶球。

The painting was in a private collection of King Charles I of England. It disappeared from view until 1900, when a British collector bought it. At that time, it was thought to have been painted by a student of Leonardo rather than the master himself.

这幅画曾经是英国国王查理一世的私人收藏。它曾一度消失，直到1900年被一位英国收藏家买下。当时，它被认为是达芬奇的学生而不是达芬奇本人所画。

In 2005, a group of art dealers⁵ paid less than $10,000 for the artwork. It was badly damaged and partly painted over. They restored the work and proved that the painting was done by Leonardo da Vinci himself.

2005年，一群艺术品交易商以不到一万美元买下这副作品。它被严重损坏，部分被涂抹。这些艺术品交易商修复了这副作品，并证实这是达芬奇所画。

Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev bought the restored painting in 2013 for $127.5 million.

俄罗斯亿万富翁德米特里·雷博诺夫列夫（Dmitry Rybolovlev）于2013年以1.275亿美元买下这副修复好的画作。

Christie’s said most experts agree the painting is a work of Leonardo da Vinci. But critics say the restoration of the piece affects the work’s authorship.

加德士拍卖公司表示，大多数专家认为这副画是达芬奇的作品之一。但是批评人士认为，作品的修复会影响到作者身份。

I'm Caty Weaver⁶.

Words in This Story

bidding - n. the act of offering to pay a particular amount of money for something

hammer - n. a tool made of wood and used especially for hitting a surface to make a loud noise

conduct - v. direct a performance

stars are aligned - idiom - when an unexpected and nearly impossible event takes place

crystal - n. a special type of glass that is very clear

authorship - n. the identity of the person who has created something

1 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

2 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

3 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

4 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

5 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

6 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。