Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Monet's 'Iris' to Be Auctioned in France, Potentially Most Expensive Ever

A previously unseen Claude Monet painting, titled 'Iris,' is set to be auctioned in France with an estimated value of at least $25 million, potentially making it the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in the country.

The large-scale painting, created in 1924 or 1925, has been privately held and is now publicly displayed for the first time at Sotheby's Paris. Experts describe the artwork as remarkably preserved and a significant discovery, representing Monet's late career.

Iris is part of a larger sale from the collection of Jeanne Schlumberger, who acquired several of Monet's studio works in 1956. These works were initially met with controversy, with some critics dismissing them as the output of an aging or impaired artist.

Monet, a pioneer of Impressionism, developed his signature style in the 1860s and is known for series like 'Haystacks' and 'Water Lilies.' His 1890 painting 'Meules' (Haystacks) previously sold for a record $110.7 million in 2019.

Art historians suggest Monet's late works, including 'Iris,' aimed to convey a broader sense of the world and redefine the nature of painting, moving towards abstraction.

The Schlumberger collection includes four Monet paintings that have remained unseen since their creation: 'Iris,' 'Weeping Willow' (1918-19), 'The House Through the Roses' (1925-26), and 'The Seine at Vernon, the Tree' (1894). These will be auctioned alongside works by other notable artists.

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