Sotheby's Paris shattered the national price ceiling on Thursday when Claude Monet's late-period masterwork, Iris, hammered down for €50 million ($56 million) including buyer's premium. The canvas, measuring 1.60 by 1.80 metres, had been hidden from the public eye for decades, residing in the private collection of the Schlumberger family in Paris. It was previously known only through a black-and-white photograph, making its sudden emergence at auction a shock to the art world.
Thomas Bompard, co-head of Sotheby's France's modern and contemporary art department, confirmed the painting was originally acquired by Jeanne Schlumberger (1889–1983). The auction house had set the pre-sale estimate at €22 million to €30 million, describing it as the highest valuation ever assigned to a painting offered in France. The final price nearly doubled the top of that range, signaling a fierce competitive bid among international collectors.
Monet painted Iris during the final, prolific years of his life, adding historical weight to the transaction. The sale occurs precisely one century after his death on December 5, 1926. Paris is currently commemorating this milestone with two major exhibitions, including Monet, Painting Time and Stories of Landscapes: From Monet to Hockney. This cultural moment appears to have fueled the premium paid for the work.
The event was not without drama. Just hours before the gavel fell, Sotheby's withdrew three Paul Cézanne paintings designated as national treasures. The move was to facilitate their potential return to Aix-en-Provence, the artist's hometown. City officials and the French Culture Ministry are currently exploring acquisition options to keep the works in France.
The market momentum continued at Christie's Paris on the same day, which generated €41.6 million in total proceeds. Two Monet works sold there, with Bord des falaises à Pourville fetching €12.7 million. The next major test for the French market will be whether the Cézanne negotiations conclude before the end of the year, potentially adding another layer to the nation's art collection.