Monet’s “Iris” sold for 50 million euros in Paris, setting a new auction record
According to Sotheby’s, it is the most expensive work of art ever sold in France
“Iris”, a monumental painting by Claude Monet created towards the end of his life, was sold at auction in Paris for 50 million euros (including fees), making it the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in France, according to the auction house Sotheby’s. The painting by the master of Impressionism was being shown to the public for the first time. Prior to the sale, its estimate ranged between 22 and 30 million euros. The large-scale work (1.60 metres high by 1.80 metres wide) had never left the Schlumberger family’s Paris residence.
According to Thomas Bompard, co-director of the modern and contemporary art department at Sotheby’s France, the painting had been purchased from the painter’s family by Jeanne Schlumberger (1889–1983), ‘a brilliant art collector’. ‘Iris’ had been valued at between 22 and 30 million euros, which was ‘the highest estimate ever attributed to a painting offered at auction in France’, as Sotheby’s had stated during the presentation of the sale in September.
Three paintings by Paul Cézanne, classified as ‘national treasures’, were also withdrawn from the sale a few hours before the auction was due to begin, ‘with a view to their return to the artist’s hometown, Aix-en-Provence’, Sotheby’s has announced. This return is the result of an agreement “between the current owners and the city of Aix-en-Provence, which, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, is considering acquiring these works for the Musée Granet”, the American auction house added.
At another auction organised by Christie’s, twenty-six works were sold, including two paintings by Claude Monet: ‘Bord des falaises à Pourville’, which sold for 12.7 million euros, and ‘Trois pots de tulipes’, for 3.1 million euros. A painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, “Jeunes filles au bord de la mer”, was sold for 5.8 million euros, whilst Pablo Picasso’s “Nature morte au gruyère” fetched 3 million euros. The total proceeds from the Christie’s auction amounted to €41.6 million (including commissions).
