Christie's Paris auction sells 26 works for 41.6 million euros
Christie's Paris auction sold 26 works for 41.6 million euros, led by a Monet at 12.7 million.
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Monet Iris Sotheby's Paris Sale
On 22 October 2026, Claude Monet's painting Iris sold at Sotheby's Paris for 50 million euros including fees, the highest price for an artwork sold at auction in France. Three Cézanne paintings classified as French national treasures were withdrawn before bidding, and Aix-en-Provence is considering acquiring them. The same day, a Christie's auction sold 26 works for a total of 41.6 million euros.
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2026-10-22 to 2026-10-26 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 22 Oct, 19:55 UTC
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What happened
Iris was acquired by collector Jeanne Schlumberger from the Monet family
Jeanne Schlumberger (1889-1983), an art collector, acquired the painting Iris from the family of the painter Claude Monet.
Iris measures 1.60 metres by 1.80 metres
The painting Iris by Claude Monet measures 1.60 metres in height and 1.80 metres in width.
Monet's Bord des falaises à Pourville sold for 12.7 million euros at Christie's
Claude Monet's painting Bord des falaises à Pourville sold for 12.7 million euros at the Christie's auction on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Christie's Paris auction sold 26 works for a total of 41.6 million euros
A Christie's auction held on Thursday 22 October 2026 sold 26 works for a total of 41.6 million euros including fees.
Iris is the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in France
The sale price of Iris, 50 million euros including fees, is the highest amount ever paid for an artwork sold at auction in France.
Picasso's Nature morte au gruyère sold for 3 million euros at Christie's
Pablo Picasso's painting Nature morte au gruyère sold for 3 million euros at the Christie's auction on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Monet's Trois pots de tulipes sold for 3.1 million euros at Christie's
Claude Monet's painting Trois pots de tulipes sold for 3.1 million euros at the Christie's auction on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Monet's Saule pleureur sold for 9.68 million euros at Sotheby's Paris
Claude Monet's painting Saule pleureur sold for 9.68 million euros at the Sotheby's Paris sale on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Iris had never left the Schlumberger family's Paris townhouse before this sale
Before the sale, Iris had not left the Paris hôtel particulier of the Schlumberger family and was known only from a black-and-white photograph. The painting was presented to the public for the first time before the auction.
Monet's painting Iris sold at Sotheby's Paris for 50 million euros
Claude Monet's painting Iris, a large work painted in 1924-1925 near the end of the artist's life, sold at auction at Sotheby's Paris on Thursday 22 October 2026 for 50 million euros including fees, exactly 50,045,000 euros.
Three Cézanne paintings classified as French national treasures withdrawn before the sale
Three paintings by Paul Cézanne, classified as French national treasures, were withdrawn from the Sotheby's Paris auction a few hours before bidding began. The withdrawal was made in view of their planned return to Aix-en-Provence, the painter's hometown.
Renoir's Jeunes filles au bord de la mer sold for 5.8 million euros at Christie's
Pierre-Auguste Renoir's painting Jeunes filles au bord de la mer sold for 5.8 million euros at the Christie's auction on Thursday 22 October 2026.
Aix-en-Provence is considering acquiring the three Cézanne paintings for Musée Granet
The city of Aix-en-Provence, with support from the French Ministry of Culture, is considering acquiring the three Cézanne paintings for the Musée Granet. The arrangement involves an exchange between the current owners and the city.
Iris sold above its pre-sale estimate of 22 to 30 million euros
Iris was estimated at between 22 and 30 million euros before the sale, which the auction house described as the highest estimate ever given for a painting auctioned in France. The final price exceeded the top of that range.
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2 alternative perspectives
Three Cézanne paintings withdrawn from Sotheby's Paris sale as Aix considers purchase
Three national-treasure Cézanne paintings were pulled from the Sotheby's Paris sale, and Aix-en-Provence is considering buying them.
Monet painting fetches 50 million euros, a French auction record
Monet's Iris sold for 50 million euros, the most expensive auction artwork ever sold in France.