The buyer of paintings by Bacon and Freud turned out to be Roman Abramovich

The mysterious buyer of Francis Bacon's "Triptych" and Lucian Freud's painting "Sleeping social worker" turned out to be Chukotka governor and businessman Roman Abramovich, The Times writes on Sunday, citing "reliable sources."

Sleeping Social Worker sold at Christie's auction in New York on Tuesday. The picture went for 33.6 million dollars, which was a record price for the work of any of the living artists. On Wednesday already at Sotheby's for Bacon's "Triptych" the buyer paid 86.3 million dollars, thus updating the record for paintings by this author.

Cristina Ruiz, editor of The Art Newspaper, said she was impressed with Abramovich's choice. "These are good acquisitions, and I think they will not fall in price," - explained the interlocutor of The Times, adding that the Russian businessman is still new to the art market.

According to The Times, the acquisition of paintings by Bacon and Freud Abramovich was inspired by his 26-year-old girlfriend Daria Zhukova, who is fond of art and recently launched her own line of clothing and accessories. Representatives of the Chukotka governor refused to comment on "his personal affairs" to the newspaper.

Recall that last week Zhukova announced plans to open a CCC Moscow center for contemporary art in Moscow, which will be located in the building of a former bus garage built in 1927 by the constructivist Konstantin Melnikov. An informal start to the project will be given on June 12, 2008 at a private party where the scandalous British singer Amy Winehouse has been invited.