A Monet water-lily painting with an estimated value of $44-59 million is heading a Christie’s sale this month in what is expected to be the biggest auction they have ever mounted in London.
The study of light in the artist’s garden in Giverny, “Nympheas,” won critical acclaim when it was first premiered at his famous 1909 exhibition in Paris.
The lot comes during a period of exceptional results in the art world as Giovanna Bertazzoni, head of impressionist and modern art at Christie’s, explained: “We are witnessing a great willingness from clients to consign works of art of the highest quality.”
The sale also includes a Picasso from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s collection which was embroiled in a controversy surrounding the Nazis and its provenance. It is expected to fetch a similar price.
The European auction record is the £183 million pounds paid for Yves Saint Laurent’s private collection of impressionist and modern art.
(Source: artdaily)