The sale of a monumental Claude Monet Iris painting at Sotheby’s in Paris is expected to set a record for the highest price paid for a painting at auction in France, according to auction house specialists. Estimated at €22m to €30m, the 1924-25 canvas measures 160cm by 180cm and marks a watershed moment for the French art market when it goes under the hammer on 22 October as part of a collection sale.
Monet Masterpiece Leads Historic Schlumberger Collection Sale
The monumental canvas represents the largest work from Monet’s celebrated Iris series ever to come to market, according to Sotheby’s senior international specialist Thomas Bompard. The painting has remained unseen in public since its creation and forms part of a 28-lot auction featuring works amassed by Jeanne Schlumberger, an heir to the Schlumberger oil company who died in 1984.
The collection is projected to fetch more than €40m in total sales. Schlumberger built her collection beginning in the 1950s by working alongside Parisian dealer Katia Granoff. Together, they championed avant-garde styles by artists including Paul Cézanne, Pierre Bonnard, Gustave Moreau, Chaïm Soutine, and Georges Rouault.
Did you know? Jeanne Schlumberger used her home as collateral in 1958 to help finance Katia Granoff’s acquisition of the studio holdings belonging to Monet’s son, Michel. This decisive financial backing secured access to an extraordinary group of late Giverny paintings at a time when the French art market showed little interest in them.
Challenging the Canon: Collecting Late Monets and Cézanne Frescoes
Monet’s late paintings initially faced hostility and incomprehension from critics. Thomas Bompard notes that upon Monet’s death, the public unveiling of these works sparked a major scandal, with critics dismissing them as artistic suicide or the output of a blind and senile artist.
Despite the contemporary backlash, Schlumberger and Granoff recognized the radical quality of the gestural brushstrokes and pure color. Today, market demand reflects this foresight, with five of the ten highest auction prices for Monet achieved by paintings created after 1914.
Schlumberger’s unorthodox eye also focused on Paul Cézanne’s early and experimental works. The upcoming sale features three of the eight panels from Cézanne’s fresco Paysage romantique aux pêcheurs, originally painted on the ground-floor walls of the Jas de Bouffan family estate in Aix-en-Provence before being transferred to canvas. These panels carry estimates starting at €400,000.
Cultural Heritage Designation for Cézanne Panels
The three Cézanne fresco panels have been designated trésors nationaux by the French state in recognition of their cultural importance. According to auction organizers, the French government now has a 30-month window to raise the necessary funds to acquire the panels for the nation.
Unlike many major estate sales, none of the lots in the Schlumberger collection carry financial guarantees. Thomas Bompard points out that the immaculate provenance and condition of the works—described as unlined, unvarnished, and untouched—make guarantees unnecessary as international collectors descend on Paris for Art Basel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Monet Iris painting being sold?
The painting will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in Paris on 22 October as part of the Jeanne Schlumberger collection sale.
What is the pre-sale estimate for the Monet Iris canvas?
The monumental canvas carries a pre-sale estimate of €22m to €30m, which is expected to set a new record for any painting sold at auction in France.
Why are Monet’s late works significant?
Painted during the final years of his life at Giverny, Monet’s late works feature gestural brushstrokes and pure color that were considered the first abstract paintings, despite facing initial criticism and skepticism during the artist’s lifetime.
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