"Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer," which played a role in protecting the life of its Jewish subject during the Holocaust, sold at Sotheby's for a historic $236.4 million. It's also the most expensive mo

The auction house’s debut at the Breuer was defined by Gustav Klimt’s late portrait soaring to $236.4 million, anchoring the $527.5 million white-glove sale of the Leonard A. Lauder

The top lot of the week was a Klimt portrait from the collection of Leonard Lauder at Sotheby's. It set a new auction record for the artist.

At $236.4 million, a portrait by Gustav Klimt is the second most expensive painting sold at auction, while Maurizio Cattelan’s golden toilet drew $12.1 million.

Gustav Klimt's 'Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer,' sold for an astonishing $236.4 million on Tuesday, making it the most expensive auction sale of a work of modern art. The price also means the piece is the second-most valuable work of art that has crossed an auction block.

The $706m total for the night included a white-glove sale of 24 lots from the collection of late cosmetics heir Leonard Lauder

The auction house makes itself at home in the landmark Breuer building.

For one top Sotheby’s executive, this year's auction season feels like destiny.“This is the season I’ve waited for my whole life,” Lisa Dennison told NBC News, standing near the radiant Gustav Klimt canvases soon to be auctioned.