Jin Shangyi's oil paiting, Tajik Bride

A painting by Chinese artist Jin Shangyi has become the most expensive oil painting ever sold at auction by China Guardian after it fetched 85.1 million yuan ($13.97 million) on Nov 16 in Beijing.

The painting, Tajik Bride, measures 60cm by 50cm and had a pre-sale value estimated at 16 million yuan. It was purchased by a bidder at the site after a long bidding war in the salesroom and via telephone.

The winning bid marked a record price for Jin's works.

Li Yanfeng, head of the oil paintings department, said Tajik Bride holds an important place in Chinese art history. The auction house has used academic research to direct the market. "Now collectors are more aware of significant works in art history. I believe the record price we see today will drive the development of the entire oil paintings market," Li said.

Widely acclaimed as the forerunner of neo-classicism in Chinese oil paintings, the painting shocked the art community when it appeared in the early 1980s. It breaks away from the traditional dark and crude patterns of Chinese oil paintings and uses Western classicism techniques to depict a beautiful and elegant bride.