It's the most ever paid for an artwork
(NEWSER) - Qatar's royal family has dropped $250 million on The Card Players, part of a series of classic paintings by Paul Cézanne—more than doubling the previous record sum for an artwork purchase. The sale actually occurred last year in secret, adding a key work to Qatar's collection. "You take any art-history course, and a Card Players is likely in it," says an expert. "It’s a major, major image." But the move isn't just about great art: It's part of the country's attempt to develop into an intellectual center, Vanity Fair reports. More»