PARIS: An exquisite masterpiece crafted by the French impressionist maestro, Claude Monet, which has been held in private ownership since 1948, is poised to fetch up to 3 million euros (approximately $3.22 million) when it takes center stage at an auction in Paris later this month. This noteworthy event is scheduled to be hosted by the Ader auction house.
The painting, titled “Les Saules, Giverny” (or “The Willows, Giverny”), has its origins traced back to 1886 and is resurfacing within the French art market. Monet’s paintings have become increasingly rare commodities in recent times, rendering this auction particularly significant.
This masterpiece is part of a selection of approximately three dozen lots that will be featured in the upcoming sale of impressionist and modern art, to be held at the historic Hotel Drouot on November 24.
During a preview of the sale, Ader auctioneer David Nordmann commented, “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 boasts a remarkable history. It had been in the possession of a family of Jewish heritage, adorning the walls of their lavish residence in central Paris. The family’s patriarch procured this artwork from a gallery in Nice back in 1948, and it has remained within their ownership for over seven decades.
While “Les Saules, Giverny” may not attain the same level of fame as some of Monet’s more iconic works, such as his celebrated water lilies or the Gare Saint Lazare paintings, which can command prices in the realm of 100 million euros, it undeniably embodies the distinctive style that defines the artist. Nordmann observed, “It’s a work that encapsulates Claude Monet’s typical characteristics, especially in terms of brushwork and the way he captures light.”