The painting "Meules" by Impressionist Claude Monet has been auctioned at the auction house Sotheby's for 110.7 million dollars - that's the equivalent of about 98.8 million euros. Thus, according to Sotheby's, the image is the most valuable painting ever auctioned by the Frenchman. "Meules" is part of a series of 23 pictures in which Monet displays haystacks in constantly changing light.
Seven bidders had spent eight minutes competing for the masterpiece until the price had risen to the record. The art dealers had previously estimated it only at 55 million dollars. At his last auction 33 years ago, "Meules" had gone to the highest bidder for 2.53 million.
Tonight # ClaudeMonet's Meules became the most valuable Impressionist work of art sold at auction, setting a new record for the artist. The painting achieved $ 110.7 million - 44 times the price when it was sold at auction in 1986. Watch the bidding battle. https://t.co/faWDFZicyz
- Sotheby's (@Sothebys) May 15, 2019Among the works auctioned on Tuesday was, among other things, a portrait made by Pablo Picasso by his wife Jaqueline. It achieved $ 54.9 million (just under 49 million euros). In other auctions in the coming days, Sotheby's will also sell a picture of US artist Mark Rothko.