Zhu Da landscape fetches record price

BEIJING, June 28 (UPI) -- A landscape by the legendary 17th century Chinese painter Zhu Da fetched a record price at a Beijing auction Sunday, auction officials said.

The unidentified buyer paid 84 million yuan ($12.3 million) for the work, breaking the previous record for a Chinese painting of 79.5 million yuan ($11.6 million) set in 2007, the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

Zhu Da, who died in 1705, who also went by the name Bada Shanren, was known for his freehand painting and calligraphy.

Xinhua said Zhu Da was listed among China's 10 most-renowned ancient cultural figures by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.