Sold at Sotheby's 19th century sale on November 4, it went seven times over estimate and made a massive record for the artist. The same painting made $2.5m (£1.56m) in 1995.
The monumental 4ft 6in x 7ft (1.37 x 2.13m) oil drew an intense three-way bidding battle that lasted nearly eight minutes. Two phone bidders took the price to over £20m, before a new bidder in the room dramatically rose a paddle at $23.5m.
It eventually sold to an anonymous phone bidder.
