Artwork depicting British MPs as chimpanzees fetches record price

Bansky's Devolved Parliament fetches record price at Sotheby's auction in London. The artwork depicts British lawmakers as chimpanzees. The winning bid after 13 minutes was £8.5 million, with fees putting the price up to £9.9 million.

London:A painting by the British artist Banksy depicting chimpanzees in the House of Commons has been sold for just short of £10 million ($12.4 million), smashing the record for his most expensive piece.

The work, which is four metres (3.2 feet) long and known as Devolved Parliament, was painted by the artist in 2009.

The winning bid after 13 minutes was £8.5 million, with fees putting the price up to £9.9 million ($12.2 million). The auction house had expected it to sell for between £1.5 ($1.85 million) and £2.5 million ($3.1 million).

The previous record for a Banksy piece was thought to be the £1.4 million ($1.73) paid for Keep it Spotless sold by Sotheby's in 2008.

Banksy reacted on Instagram following the record-breaking sale. "Record price for a Banksy painting set at auction tonight," he wrote. "Shame I didn't still own it."

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