The 1839 masterpiece of painting of a view of Rome has been sold for 29.7 million euros, which is a record price for the artist's auction. The painting was up for sale for only second time and it was sold within five minutes with six bidders bidding for that class act.

The previous record price was 20.5 million euros paid in 2006 for San Giorgio, La Donna della Salute and the Venice painting Giudecca.

The Modern Rome painting was expected to be sold in between 12 million to 13 million euros but it was the top seller at the Old Master and British Painting sale.

Another painting of the Dutch artist Jan Lievens of an old bearded man wearing a cap has brought 2.5 million euros, which was estimated of 2-3 million euros.

The 1839 painting Modern Rome was bought by a dealer of London on behalf of The J Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeles. Before the sale of Wednesday the painting was appeared on sale once before 171 years when it was painted. For last 30 years the painting has been on a loan to the National Galleries of Scotland.