FIRST OFF . . .

All that money paid for art is starting to add up. Christie’s International announced record art sales totaling $900 million worldwide for the 11-month auction season ending July 31--a 57% increase over last season’s sales. Chairman John Floyd attributed the increase in part to the sales of two of the most expensive paintings ever handled by the auction house: Van Gogh’s “Bridge of Trinquetaille,” purchased in June for $20.2 million, and “Sunflowers,” whose $39.9 million bid is the highest in history for a single painting. Floyd said that 40 paintings have sold in New York and London for $1 million or more since the season opened last September.