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Lewis Whyld/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Monet painting sells for a whopping €34.4 million at NY auction

The 1905 painting of mint-green lily pads was the biggest single seller at the Christie’s auction.

ONE OF CLAUDE Monet’s water lily paintings sold for almost €34.4 million at a Christie’s auction in New York city yesterday.

Monet’s oil on canvas ‘Nympheas’ was the biggest single seller at the auction, hitting the high end of the €23-€39 million estimate.

The 1905 painting of mint-green lily pads on top of a periwinkle pool was bought by an anonymous American collector.

A painting by Wassily Kandinsky sold for €18 million, setting an auction record for the Russian avant-garde artist. The oil painting ‘Studie fur improvisation 8’ was a highlight of the big evening sale of impressionist and modern works at Christie’s auction house in Manhattan.

Alberto Giacometti’s ‘La Jambe’, a single skinny bronze leg, sold for€8.8 million, at the low end of the estimate.

Among the night’s losers was the bronze sculpture ‘Coq’ by Picasso, which had a pre-sale estimate of €7.8 – 11.7 million but did not sell.

This is what the Monet that sold for almost €34.4 million looks like:

Image: Lewis Whyld/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Would you pay €34.4 million for it?


Poll Results:

No, it seems ridiculous to spend that kind of money on a painting (439)
I am not sure, I would have to think about it (350)
Yes, if I had that kind of money I would (147)

Additional reporting © AFP, 2012

Read: Host of famous Irish artists’ work to go under hammer >

Read: Slideshow: The 7 masterpieces stolen from Dutch Kunsthal museum >

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22 Comments
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    Mute Andrew Corcoran
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:30 AM

    Monet well spent?

    130
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    Mute John Murphy
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    Nov 8th 2012, 1:31 PM

    Have the Tate Gallery been in touch yet ;) ?

    3
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    Mute Graham Kiely
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:31 AM

    I sketched around my hand in 1980. Offers above 200k.

    80
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    Mute Declan
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:54 AM

    200k? Not for your own hand, however if you sketched around Andy Warhol’s hand, then maybe!

    15
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    Mute Damo
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:34 AM

    I really think that kind of money on a painting is ridiculous

    53
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    Mute Rory Conway
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    Nov 8th 2012, 12:57 PM

    No decent home should e without one ! And to think that nobody told me about the auction.

    18
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    Mute Garry Fitzgerald
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    Nov 8th 2012, 7:27 PM

    Damo
    That’s why you will never have one or appreciate one or be capable of deserving one!

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    Mute Damo
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    Nov 8th 2012, 11:13 PM

    Gary I actually like the painting! I just think that kind of money for any material thing is sick I can’t help thinking whoever bought it did so as a status symbol rather than for there love of it-would you have paid that much for it if you could?

    7
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    Mute Oliver
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:49 AM

    Monet,Monet, Monet,always Monet , it’s a rich mans world !!!

    Sorry.

    46
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    Mute Nicola Monaghan
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:48 AM

    did I not clean that up off the kitchen floor lastnight?! (WARNING: may offend as I do not appreciate “fine art”)

    24
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    Mute Declan
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    Nov 8th 2012, 10:51 AM

    Probably some former corrupt Irish politician, bond holder, builder or public servant bought it out of proceeds generated by ill gotten gains!

    18
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    Mute Gerard
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    Nov 8th 2012, 11:49 AM

    That is one of the lamest comments I’ve ever read. Must try harder fella

    43
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    Mute Simon Power
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    Nov 8th 2012, 12:32 PM

    That’s an impressively bland segue into that old cliché.

    15
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    Mute Declan
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    Nov 8th 2012, 12:49 PM

    Yes men like you to corrupt politicians have gotten Ireland to where it is today. Why was my previous reply removed Journel.ie? So much for freedom of speech.

    5
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    Mute Gerard
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    Nov 8th 2012, 12:51 PM

    You’re proving quite popular here today Declan.

    14
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    Mute Mick Lennon
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    Nov 8th 2012, 5:27 PM

    waste of Monet

    14
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    Mute My Two Cents
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    Nov 8th 2012, 1:48 PM

    High end art is always a winner…out performs the usual investments…

    12
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    Mute Cathy Murphy
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    Nov 8th 2012, 12:43 PM

    What is they say about fools and their money?

    9
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    Mute howsaboutya
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    Nov 8th 2012, 9:32 PM

    Lot of money yes, but ask anybody who paints or enjoys art and they will tell you how big a deal Monets work is.
    With all the big money floating between the oil barons, these pieces are the ultimate in wall paper. it’s all relative to wealth.
    I love you all equally.

    8
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    Mute Mary Mc Carthy
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    Nov 8th 2012, 6:37 PM

    It was sold to an American …. Maybe Trump bought it to congratulate Obama ?

    7
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    Mute Daniel R
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    Nov 8th 2012, 5:37 PM

    The euro is on the brink of collapse and with the federal reserve implementing QE3 the dollar isn’t worth sh*t. If I had that amount of monet I’d wanna keep it in a commodity too.

    3
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    Mute William Grogan
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    Nov 8th 2012, 8:16 PM

    “Art” is mostly crap.

    3
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