British artist David Hockney had to be freed by Dutch firefighters from an elevator in Amsterdam as he was about to open a new exhibition of his works.

The 81-year-old, who holds the record for the most expensive painting by a living artist, had been heading down for a cigarette at his hotel late Wednesday when it suddenly stopped.

Hockney was in Amsterdam for the opening of "Hockney-Van Gogh: The Joy of Nature" at the Van Gogh Museum, which compares the British legend's works with those of the Dutch post-impressionist.

In the lift with Hockney was a group of journalists including BBC reporter Jim Naughtie, who later interviewed him.

"We were in there half an hour," Hockney said.

Asked if he had ever had a similar experience before, Hockney replied : "No never."

The BBC's Naughtie said the lift had "jerked to a halt" and that nothing had happened when they pressed the alarm button.

Eventually -- with the help of Geordie Greig, editor of Britain's Daily Mail tabloid, who was waiting in the lobby -- help came in the form of the Amsterdam fire brigade, Naughtie said.

Bottles of water were passed through a gap in the lift door -- as well as a folding stool for the elderly Hockney.

Hockney cheerfully posed afterwards for pictures with the Dutch firemen, who gave thumbs-up signs.

An iconic 1972 swimming pool picture by Hockney -- "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" -- sold for $90.3 million at Christie's in New York in November, setting a new auction record for a living artist.

The Amsterdam exhibition examines the similarities between Hockney's colourful pictures, especially his landscapes of his native Yorkshire, and the vibrant paintings of Dutch master Van Gogh.