He had bought the painting in 1989 for $26.4 million.

She said that more than half the $68 million needed to buy the painting had been raised.

The museum was presumably able to buy the painting for $600,000.

She took that money and began buying early American paintings.

The museum bought the painting from an unidentified French collection for nearly $7 million in public and private money.

"And you're sure nobody else in the family bought paintings."

This has the effect of driving away those with the resources to buy original paintings.

They bought the painting on impulse, lived with it and soon wanted more of the same.

Congress eventually agreed to buy the painting seven years after its completion.

He had bought the painting with his first paycheck, too many years ago to think about.