Monet's "Iris" sets record in France
A monumental painting by Claude Monet titled Iris was auctioned for 50 million euros on Thursday, October 22, in Paris. This made it the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in France. The painting, created between 1924 and 1925, had been in the private collection of the Schlumberger family for decades.Rare appearance of a hidden masterpiece
The painting, measuring 1.60 meters in height and 1.80 meters in width, had never been publicly displayed before. It was only known through a black and white photograph. Jeanne Schlumberger, a noted art collector, acquired the piece from Monet’s family in the early 20th century.High demand for Monet's work
The auction, organized by Sotheby's, saw intense bidding that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Iris was estimated to sell between 22 and 30 million euros, the highest estimate ever for a painting in France. Other Monet works sold included Willow Tree for 9.6 million euros and The Seine at Vernon for 4.2 million euros.Other notable sales and repatriations
In April 2026, another Monet painting, Vétheuil, Morning Effect, sold for 10.2 million euros in Paris, becoming the most expensive Monet work sold in France at the time. Three Paul Cézanne paintings, deemed national treasures, were removed from the auction hours before it began. They were to be returned to Aix-en-Provence for the Musée Granet.Christie's auction highlights
On the same day, Christie's held its own auction, selling 26 works. Two Monet paintings sold for 12.7 million euros and 3.1 million euros respectively. A Renoir painting, Young Girls by the Sea, sold for 5.8 million euros, and a Picasso still life sold for 3 million euros. The total amount raised by Christie's auction was 41.6 million euros.
