The essentials
Monet's Iris sold for 50 million euros, the most expensive auction artwork ever sold in France.
Claude Monet's painting Iris sold for 50 million euros at Sotheby's Paris, according to reports. The price is the highest ever paid for an artwork sold at auction in France. It also exceeded the pre-sale estimate of 22 to 30 million euros.
The canvas measures 1.60 metres by 1.80 metres. It was acquired by collector Jeanne Schlumberger from the Monet family. Before this sale, the painting had never left the Schlumberger family's Paris townhouse.
Separately, Monet's Saule pleureur sold for 9.68 million euros at Sotheby's Paris. The available information does not identify the buyer of Iris.
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Tracing Iris from the Monet family to a Paris auction
The painting was acquired by collector Jeanne Schlumberger from the Monet family. It then remained in the Schlumberger family's Paris townhouse and had not left it before this sale. It was offered at Sotheby's Paris, where it sold for 50 million euros. The canvas measures 1.60 by 1.80 metres.
Sale price sets a new benchmark for French auction history
The 50 million euro result is the highest ever recorded for an artwork sold at auction in France. It landed well above the top of the 22 to 30 million euro pre-sale estimate. For comparison, another Monet work, Saule pleureur, sold for 9.68 million euros at Sotheby's Paris.