The painting 'Iris' by Claude Monet, created in the later years of this great painter's life, will be auctioned on October 22, 2023, at Sotheby's. This work will be sold alongside several other paintings from the private collection of the Schlumberger family, with an estimated price between 22 to 30 million euros. This amount is the highest estimate ever announced for a painting at an auction in France.
Exceptional Condition of the Paintings
Thomas Bumpar, co-director of the modern and contemporary department at Sotheby's France, announced that the painting 'Iris' has been preserved in exceptional condition and has never been varnished. He states, 'This work is on its original canvas and has never been restored. These works are exactly as Monet painted them a hundred years ago.'
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Marianne Mathieu, an art historian, also emphasized the importance of preserving the details of the paintings and explained that varnish can alter the colors, and restoration can diminish the vibrancy of the paint. She added, 'In his later years, Monet worked more with the material than anything else; therefore, to truly discover and understand him, this material must be preserved, and we still have these thick layers of paint.'
Valuation of Artworks
The painting 'Weeping Willow' will also be offered at this auction, with an estimated price between 9 to 10 million euros. These paintings have been installed in the Schlumberger family's hall for a century and have never been moved. According to Thomas Bumpar, these paintings have never been publicly displayed in color and have only been in the possession of private collectors.
Jean Schlumberger, a 'brilliant art collector,' purchased this work from the painter's family through Katia Granoff, a 'visionary gallery owner,' without passing through the auction house. Thomas Bumpar explains, 'Many people knew the story, at least the existence of this collection; however, very few had actually seen them. This fact has generated today's excitement.'
A total of 28 works will be sold at Sotheby's, with the auction valued at over 40 million euros. Among other works, there are four pieces by Monet, a sculpture by Camille Claudel, and several paintings by Gustave Moreau. Additionally, a wall composition of three works by Paul Cézanne will also be auctioned.
The centerpiece of this collection, titled 'Farm,' is recognized as 'the largest work by this artist ever to be auctioned' and is valued between 600 to 800 thousand euros. It is worth noting that these three paintings have been classified as 'national treasures,' which allows the government a potential purchasing opportunity for 30 months.
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