NEW YORK.- The painting "No. 9 (White and Black on Wine)" by Mark Rothko sold for a new record for the artist at $16.4 million at Christie’s. Rothko’s previous record was $14.3 million and was set in 2000. The total for the Postwar and Contemporary Art sale at Christie’s was $69.8 million. Only 72% of the lots were sold. Other artists included in the sale were Yves Klein and Andy Warhol. Christopher Burge, honorary chairman of Christie’s America and the evening’s auctioneer, said: "The message from tonight’s sale is that the art market is strong. There was furious bidding for works of great quality." AT the auction, the second highest price paid was also for a Rothko painting. It was the 1957 work "Brown and Blacks in Reds," which sold for $6.7 million. The sponge relief painting "RE 2" by Yves Klein’s sold for $5.3 million. The work "Marlon" by Andy Warhol sold for $5 million. "Campbell’s Soup Can (Pepper Pot)," also by Warhol, sold for $2.4 million. "Bethlehem’s Hospital" by Frank Stella sold for $4.4 million.