Gun 'that ended Van Gogh's life' sells for nearly triple estimate
“结束梵高生命”的枪 超估价近三倍卖出
The revolver with which Vincent van Gogh is believed to have shot himself sold for 162,500 euros ($182,000) at a Paris auction on Wednesday — nearly three times the estimate.
周三的巴黎拍卖会上，被认为是文森特·梵高自杀所用的左轮手枪以 162500 欧元（合 182000 美元）的价格售出——几乎是其估价的三倍。
Billed as "the most famous weapon in the history of art", the rusty 7mm Lefaucheux revolver was bought by a private collector with a telephone bid.
这把被宣传为“艺术史上最有名的武器”，是一把 7 毫米口径、锈迹斑驳的勒福舍左轮手枪，最终由一名私人收藏家通过电话竞标买走。
The troubled Dutch painter died in July 1890 and experts believe he shot himself with the revolver in a field near Auvers-sur-Oise, a village north of Paris where he spent the last few months of his life.
这位陷入困境的荷兰画家（梵高）于 1890 年 7 月去世。专家认为，他是在巴黎以北的瓦兹河畔欧韦（Auvers-sur-Oise）附近的田野开枪自杀的。据悉，梵高生前的最后几个月就在当地度过。
But the sale was hit by controversy on the eve of the auction as the Van Gogh Institute, which looks after the village inn where the artist spent his last days, condemned the sale.
然而，在拍卖会前夕，（手枪的）拍卖受到了争议。梵高研究所（发表声明）谴责了此次拍卖。这个研究所平日里负责照管梵高生前最后一段日子所住的乡村旅馆。
"Nothing suggests that the remains (of the gun) are formally linked with the death of Van Gogh," it said in a statement, deploring the "commercialisation of a tragedy which deserves more respect".
梵高研究所在声明中表示，“没有任何迹象表明，这把枪（的残骸）与梵高的死亡正式挂钩”，并对“这场本应获得更多尊重的悲剧（被）商业化”深表遗憾。
重点词汇
sell for
售价为...，卖（多少钱）
例句：The book sells for 20 yuan.
triple/ˈtrɪpl/
adj. 三倍于
例句：This hamburger is triple the size of that one.
revolver/rɪˈvɑːlvər/
n. 左轮手枪
相关词汇：revolve（v. 旋转，转动）
revolve 例句：The earth revolves around the sun.
bill as
宣传，做广告
近义词：advertise as
例句：Chocolate is billed as a byword for love.
rusty/ˈrʌsti/
adj. 生锈的；荒废的，生疏的
相关词汇：rust（v. 生锈）
搭配短语：a rusty bike
例句：My English is a bit rusty these days.
controversy/ˈkəntrɒvəsi/
n. 争论，争议
词义辨析
controversy, argument
controversy 针对一些范围更广、更重要的问题，强调意见分歧的深刻性；而 argument 更多是指：两方用事实或理由来说服对方的辨论。
搭配短语：controversy over the college admission
搭配短语：a heated/fierce controversy
相关词汇：controversial（adj. 引起争议的）
controversial 搭配短语：a controversial topic
inn/ɪn/
n.（开设在乡间、路边，设备简陋的）小旅店
condemn/kənˈdem/
v. 谴责，声讨
搭配短语：condemn sb.'s behaviour
搭配短语：condemn for
condemn for 例句：He was condemned for his mistake.
deplore/dɪˈplɔːr/
v. 对…深感遗憾，哀叹
搭配短语：deplore the accident
相关词汇：deplorable（adj. 可叹的，凄惨的）
deplorable 搭配短语：a deplorable accident
commercialisation/kəˌmɜːrʃələˈzeɪʃn/
n. 商业化
相关词汇：commercialise
搭配短语：the commercialisation of Christmas