ART

A portrait by American-born artist Benjamin West sold for $2.87 million, more than double the top pre-sale estimated price, Sotheby’s auction house in London said Wednesday. The portrait is of Sir Joseph Banks, a scientist who accompanied Capt. James Cook on some of his pioneering South Seas voyages. Sotheby’s had estimated a price of $930,000 to $1.24 million for the painting. A spokesman said the much higher sum was paid by an unidentified buyer.