A collection of artwork put together by billionaire David Rockefeller that includes pieces from Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and Georgia O'Keeffe brought in more than 646 million US dollars on the first night of an auction.

Highlights of the Tuesday sale at Christies included "Young Girl with a Flower Basket," a 1905 painting by Pablo Picasso which fetched 115 million dollars, the second-highest price at auction for the artist.

Paintings by Claude Monet and Henri Matisse also garnered new record prices for the artists.

Monet's "Water Lilies in Bloom," completed between 1914 and 1917, sold for a record 84.6 million dollars and Matisse's "Odalisque reclining with magnolias" sold for a record 80.7 million.

Christie's says the proceeds will be distributed to a number of philanthropic endeavours Rockefeller and his wife, Peggy, supported in their lifetimes.