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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.
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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)
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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?
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.
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.
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.
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