PARIS: A masterpiece created by French impressionist master Claude Monet, which has remained in private hands since 1948, is expected to fetch up to 3 million euros ($3.22 million) when it goes up for auction later this month in Paris, according to Ader auction house.
The painting, titled “Les Saules, Giverny” (“The Willows, Giverny”), dates back to 1886 and is reappearing in the French art market, where Monet’s paintings have become increasingly scarce.
It is one of approximately three dozen lots at the upcoming Ader auction house’s sale of impressionist and modern art at Hotel Drouot slated for November 24.
Ader auctioneer David Nordmann remarked during a preview of the sale, “Paintings of Claude Monet of this caliber, of this magnitude, are no longer commonly found within French households. They are primarily located in major museums or held in foreign collections, making it a rare occurrence to encounter them in France. It’s a significant event for the French art market.”
Measuring 73cm by 92cm (28.7 inches by 36.2 inches), Monet’s oil painting has a remarkable history. It belonged to a family of Jewish heritage and graced the walls of their opulent residence in central Paris. The family’s grandfather acquired the artwork from a gallery in Nice in 1948, and it has remained in their possession ever since.
While “Les Saules, Giverny” may not enjoy the same level of fame as Monet’s iconic water lilies or the Gare Saint Lazare paintings, which can command prices in the realm of 100 million euros, it unmistakably carries the artist’s signature style. “It’s a work that embodies Claude Monet’s typical characteristics, especially in terms of brushwork and the way he captures light,” noted Nordmann.
