Pablo Picasso's "Women of Algiers (Version O)" set a world record for most expensive artwork ever sold at auction on Monday night. It was part of Christie's "Looking Forward to the Past" sale of masterpieces which also featured Alberto Giacometti's life-size sculpture "Pointing Man."

"Women of Algiers" exceeded its estimate of $140 million to fetch $179,365,000 (with premium). The previous record for most expensive artwork sold at auction was held by Francis Bacon's "Three Studies of Lucian Freud," which sold at Christie's for $142.4 million in 2013. 

With provenance from the Victor and Sally Ganz collection, the Picasso was inspried by the work of 19th-century French artist Eugene Delacroix and it is part of a 15-work series Picasso created in 1954-55.

"Pointing Man," Giacometti's thin 5-foot-high bronze figure with extended arms, was in a private collection for 45 years. It brought $141,285,000 )with premium).

His "Walking Man I" held the auction record for a sculpture at $104.3 million in 2010.

The buyers remain anonymous.