A sketch by Pablo Picasso of his mistress reclining nude sold for $575,357 - about three times the estimated price - at a Paris auction Monday where the woman sold 20 of the artist's works.

Describing the pencil on paper sketch in the sale catalogue, Genevieve Laporte recalled how she had fallen asleep just as Picasso was preparing to draw: "He waited patiently until I opened my eyes to continue his sketch!"

The Picasso Museum in Paris bought the sensual image entitled "Odalisque" for about three times the estimated price, Artcurial auction house said. Altogether, the sale of Laporte's collection reaped a total of $1.87 million.

A similar sketch, entitled "Le Songe," was sold to an unidentified British collector for $507,239, more than twice the estimated price, said Francis Briest, the auctioneer.

Posted by Lawren at June 28, 2005 07:32 AM

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