The Latest: Francis Bacon, Twombly artworks fetch $71M in NY

NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on Sotheby's contemporary art sale (all times local):

8 p.m.

A self-portrait of Francis Bacon and a Cy Twombly (sy TWAHM'-blee) "Blackboard" painting executed in blue have sold for a total of more than $71 million at an auction in New York.

Twombly's "Untitled (New York City)" fetched $36.7 million. It was among 44 artworks being offered at Sotheby's contemporary art sale Wednesday night.

The 1968 work is the only composition from his celebrated "Blackboard" series that features blue loops on a gray background. It was acquired directly from the artist and has remained in the same collection ever since.

Also getting high bids was Bacon's "Two Studies for a Self-Portrait," which brought in $35 million. The painting had remained in the same collection for 46 years, having been acquired the same year it was created.

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12:30 a.m.

A self-portrait of Francis Bacon and a Cy Twombly "Blackboard" painting executed in blue are among 44 artworks going under the gavel at Sotheby's contemporary art sale.

They are expected to fetch up to $30 million and $40 million, respectively Wednesday evening.

Bacon's "Two Studies for a Self-Portrait" has remained in the same collection for 46 years, having been acquired the same year it was created.

Twombly's "Untitled (New York City)" from 1968 is the only composition from his celebrated "Blackboard" series that features blue loops on a gray background. It was acquired directly from the artist and has remained in the same collection ever since.

Sotheby's also has another large-scale canvas by Twombly that was created in 2004. "Untitled (Bacchus 1st Version V)" could bring over $20 million.