Topless Bea Arthur painting sells for nearly $2 million

Why would we make this up?

Yes, THAT Bea Arthur.

Of All in the Family.

Maude.

And now, nudity.

The Golden Girls.

This certainly falls under the heading of bizarre. The artist was John Currin and the star never actually posed topless for him.

But that was not a drawback for Currin who used his imagination to paint the star from …..uhh….the waist up anyway.

The work has been called everything from “visually lasting” to “sexist and misogynistic.”

Christies Auction House set a record on Wednesday night when they sold $495 million worth of art.

Currins works were originally panned by many but now are displayed in some of the finest museums in the world.

WARNING: See more here including the entire painting but be warned, there is nudity. And it's of Bea Arthur, so, double warning.