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Monet's 'Iris' sells for €50 million, a new auction record in France
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In brief
Claude Monet's late-period canvas "Iris" sold for 50 million euros, including fees, at Sotheby's in Paris on October 22, 2026. Sotheby's said the price makes it the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in France, well above a pre-sale estimate of 22-30 million euros.
Claude Monet's painting "Iris" sold for 50 million euros, fees included, at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday, October 22, 2026, according to franceinfo and France 24. Sotheby's said the result makes it the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in France.
The sale price equates to roughly 56 million dollars, France 24 reported. Before the auction, Sotheby's had put a pre-sale estimate of 22 to 30 million euros on the canvas; franceinfo described this as a record estimate for a painting offered at auction in France. The final price exceeded the top end of that estimate by roughly 20 million euros.
A century-old painting, rarely seen
"Iris" was painted by Monet in 1924-1925, according to franceinfo. The canvas measures 1.60 metres high by 1.80 metres wide, according to franceinfo and France 24.
According to Euro Weekly News, the painting was originally acquired by collector Jeanne Schlumberger through Katia Granoff's Paris gallery and remained inside the Schlumberger family's Paris mansion for decades. France 24 reported that, before this sale, the work had never left that residence and was known publicly only through black-and-white photographs. Euro Weekly News said "Iris" was part of a 28-work collection from the Schlumberger estate and that the public saw it in color for the first time when the collection was unveiled in September.
Franceinfo cited art historian Marianne Mathieu, who said the painting remains on its original canvas, has never been varnished and has not suffered any accident, adding that "the paint layer is totally unharmed."
A 45-minute bidding contest
Euro Weekly News reported that bidding lasted close to 45 minutes, with competitors bidding by telephone before the final price was reached. Neither Euro Weekly News nor the other sources consulted identified the buyer or the exact number of bidders.
Centenary of Monet's death
The sale fell during the year marking the centenary of Monet's death on December 5, 1926. France 24 reported that the anniversary is being marked in Paris with two exhibitions, "Monet, Painting Time" and "Stories of Landscapes, from Monet to Hockney." France 24 also reported that three other Monet canvases were offered the same day at the same Sotheby's sale, including a work titled "Saule Pleureur," estimated between 9 and 12 million euros.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Final price (with fees) | €50 million (~$56 million) |
| Pre-sale estimate | €22-30 million |
| Painting size | 1.60 m x 1.80 m |
| Painting dates | 1924-1925 |
| Auction house | Sotheby's, Paris |
| Sale date | October 22, 2026 |
Questions
- How much did Monet's 'Iris' sell for?
- The painting sold for 50 million euros including buyer's fees, equivalent to roughly 56 million dollars, at Sotheby's in Paris on October 22, 2026.
- Why is this sale a record?
- Sotheby's said the price makes 'Iris' the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in France, exceeding the top end of its 22-30 million euro pre-sale estimate by about 20 million euros.
- Had the painting been shown publicly before?
- No. According to France 24 and Euro Weekly News, 'Iris' remained inside the Schlumberger family's Paris mansion for decades and was known only through black-and-white photographs until it was unveiled in color in September 2026.
- Who bought the painting?
- None of the sources consulted identified the buyer.
- When was 'Iris' painted?
- Monet painted it in 1924-1925, according to franceinfo.
How the world is telling it
- FrenchFrench outlets (franceinfo) framed the sale primarily as a national auction record, emphasizing that Sotheby's called it the highest price ever paid for an artwork at auction in France, and highlighted the painting's pristine, unvarnished condition as described by an art historian.
Sources
- franceinfo — Un tableau du peintre impressionniste Claude Monet "Iris" vendu 50 millions d'euros à Paris, un record pour des enchères d'art en France
- France 24 — Monet's 'Iris' fetches 50 mn euros at Paris auction
- ARTnews — Claude Monet Painting Sells for $56.2 M., Setting French Auction Record at Sotheby's Paris
- Euro Weekly News — Monet painting hidden from public for a century sells for €50 million in Paris
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
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