ART

A collection of 26 paintings belonging to vanished millionaire art connoisseur Roberto Polo were auctioned Monday in Paris, fetching a disappointing $16.1 million. Auctioneer Jacques Tajan said he’d hoped the sale of the 18th-Century French canvases, including works by Fragonard and Watteau, would realize $17.5 million. Polo, a 37-year-old Cuban-born American businessman, disappeared from his Paris apartment after a Swiss court issued a warrant for his arrest last Wednesday on charges of fraud and abuse of confidence. He’s currently being sought by French police for questioning. Most of the auction’s proceeds went to a Paris bank, which had used the paintings as collateral in making a loan to Polo for an unspecified amount of money, auctioneer Tajan said.