Montbazon (France) (AFP)
A painting by Claude Monet (1840-1926) entitled "Dieppe", auctioned Sunday at one million euros in Montbazon (Indre-et-Loire), was withdrawn from the sale for lack of buyer.
The 74 cm by 60 cm canvas, painted in February 1882 by the artist during a stay in Normandy, represents the entrance to the city of Dieppe.
A few minutes after the launch of the auction within the framework of the chateau d'Artigny, the auctioneers Philippe and Aymeric Rouillac announced to the audience that, no one having come forward, the work, owned by a collector Japanese, was withdrawn from the sale, noted an AFP correspondent.
"It is a painting that Claude Monet kept until his death, which is why it is not signed", explained Philippe Rouillac.
"An artist signs when he sells. We have a strong case as to his authentication. This is a Monet, there is no shadow of a doubt," he added.
For the auctioneers, the painting did not receive the expected reception due to "the pandemic" which "prevented English, American and Chinese buyers from coming to see it. You don't buy a painting for a million euros on a photo ", analyzed Philippe Rouillac.
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"It is a disappointment. The Dieppe museum dreams of this painting. We will try to help it to gather the necessary means so that it acquires it if it wishes it", specified, at the time of a press conference, Aymeric Rouillac.
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