International contemporary art platformSotheby’s Paris has announced the sale of 28 artworks from the Schlumberger collection, scheduled for October 22, 2026. The highlight of the auction is Claude Monet’s painting ‘Iris,’ which carries an estimated value between €22 million and €30 million. This estimate is the highest ever assigned to a painting at auction in France, and the total sale is expected to exceed €40 million.
The Schlumberger collection was assembled beginning in the 1950s, with the involvement of Parisian dealer Katia Granoff. It is recognized for its focus on avant-garde artists, including Paul Cézanne, Pierre Bonnard, Gustave Moreau, Chaïm Soutine, and Georges Rouault. The collection reflects significant movements in modern art.
‘Iris’ and two other paintings in the sale have been designated as national treasures. This status gives the French state a 30-month window to consider acquiring them, highlighting their cultural importance beyond market value.
Coinciding with the auction, two exhibitions on Monet’s life and work will open in Paris at the end of September: “Monet, Painting Time” and “Stories of Landscapes, from Monet to Hockney.” These exhibitions provide additional context for Monet’s influence on landscape painting.
The auction and related events underscore the ongoing global interest in Impressionist and modern art, and the continued relevance of these works to cultural heritage and the international art market.
Why it matters