$15 million paid for Bacon work

A Francis Bacon painting fetched $15 million at Sotheby’s contemporary and postwar auction, smashing the record for the Dublin-born artist.

Bacon’s “Version No. 2 of Lying Figure With Hypodermic Syringe,” a powerful 1968 work, was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder, eclipsing the old record by some $5 million.

The work was one of 27 being sold Tuesday from the noteworthy Vanthournout collection, all of which found buyers.