This watercolor study by French artist Paul Cezanne hasn't been seen in public in six decades. And at Christie's in New York it went under the hammer for a whopping17 million US dollars or 19 million dollars including commissions. The work was long thought to be lost and is part of the artist's famed "Card Player" series. Christie's Brooke Lampley says its success is natural. Brooke Lampley (Head of Impressionist and Modern Department at Christie's New York): "The Cezanne is an incredibly rare piece. And it's exciting to see a work on paper fetch such a high price. But it comes from a very important series and is in a uniquely good condition." Another top seller of the evening was this oil painting by Henri Matisse. It also changed hands for 19 million dollars, nearly doubling its original estimate. Brooke Lampley: "I think it really speaks to the attraction in the market place internationally for pictures that are colorist in their focus and the vivid colors used here." Other highlights include this small portrait by Pablo Picasso titled "Le Repos," selling for a hammer price of nearly 9 million dollars and works by Claude Monet and Joan Miro. With sales totaling 117 million dollars the night was a hit for Christie's and impressionist and modern art with the highest sell-through rate for the auction house since 2006. (Elly Park/ Reuters)