UNITED KINGDOM: CLAUDE MONET'S "MEULES DERNIERS RAYONS DE SOLEIL" IS SOLD FOR £10.1 MILLION POUNDS AT AUCTION IN LONDON

Record ID: 338363

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: CLAUDE MONET'S "MEULES DERNIERS RAYONS DE SOLEIL" IS SOLD FOR £10.1 MILLION POUNDS AT AUCTION IN LONDON
  • Date: 26th June 2001
  • Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 26, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF HAYSTACK PAINTING "MEULES DERNIERS RAYONS DE SOLEIL" (2 SHOTS) 0.18 2. CLOSE UP OF MONET'S SIGNATURE ON THE PAINTING 0.22 3. CLOSE UP OF NOTICE SHOWING THE PAINTING IS EXPECTED TO REACH 5-7 MILLION POUNDS STERLING 0.27 4. WIDE OF PAINTING 0.33 5. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) HELENA NEWMAN, SENIOR DIRECTOR, SOTHEBY'S LONDON SAYING: "Well this is one of our star paintings in the auction at Sotheby's tonight. It's a rare example in private hands of Monet's great series of haystack paintings executed between 1890 and 1891. What's outstanding about this example is partly the history, it's the first time it has been seen in public for over a hundred years." 0.56 6. VARIOUS OF PAINTING (2 SHOTS) 1.11 7. SV: PEOPLE LOOKING AT PAINTING 1.20 8. VARIOUS OF 'AU PARC MONCEAU' ANOTHER PAINTING BY MONET IN THE AUCTION (2 SHOTS) 1.32 9. VARIOUS OF AUCTION TAKING PLACE (8 SHOTS) 2.19 10. CU: SCREEN READING 9.2 MILLION POUNDS 2.23 11. SV: AUCTIONEER STRIKING THE HAMMER SELLING FOR 9:2 MILLION 2.32 12. SV: SOTHEBY'S EMPLOYEE WHO TOOK THE BID OVER THE PHONE 2.39 13. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) HENRY WYNDHAM AUCTIONEER AND CHAIRMAN OF SOTHEBY'S EUROPE SAYING: "The estimate was five to seven million, we got 10.1, we're very pleased. I wasn't sure what it was going to make before the sale, you never know, but 10:1 I think we'd be very happy. It's a wonderful picture and whoever bought it is a very lucky person." 2.57 14. ZOOM OUT VIEW OF PAINTING 3.08 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA52M2PG82CGHCFAG2836O2O6XV
  • Story Text: One of Claude Monet's famous haystack paintings unseen
    in public for over a hundred years has gone under the hammer
    for a record 10.1 million pounds sterling.



    Claude Monet's 'Meules, Derniers Rayons de Soleil'
    (Haystacks, last rays of the sun) is the only one of the
    Haystacks series to have never been publicly exhibited in the
    twentieth century. Now the painting has sold for 10.1 million
    pounds to an anonymous buyer, a record for the Haystack
    series.

    Sotheby's describe the work as "two large meules
    (haystacks) with peaked thatched roofs typical of those found
    in Normandy. Evening sunlight scythes its way between the
    stacks casting shadows, filling the composition with warmth,
    vitality and light."
    The haystack series of 23 paintings in now recognised as
    an important landmark in the development of modern art and
    impressionism.

    Fifteen of the series are now in major museums around the
    world.

    The painting sold by Sotheby's is one of only eight
    remaining in private hands. "This is one of our star paintings
    in the auction at Sotheby's tonight. It's a rare example in
    private hands of Monet's great series of haystack paintings
    executed between 1890 and 1891. What's outstanding about this
    example is partly the history, it's the first time it has been
    seen in public for over a hundred years," said Helena Newman a
    senior director at the auction house.

    The painting was purchased directly from Monet by his
    friend Paul Gallimard in 1891. Gallimard had one of the most
    important impressionist collections including other works by
    Monet. He exhibited it in Paris in 1891 and in 1895, the last
    time it was seen in public. Until this week, the painting had
    never left France.

    Though the painting reached 9.2 million in the auction
    the final price with commission was 10.1 million pounds, a
    price Sotheby's was very happy with. "The estimate was five to
    seven million, we got 10.1, we're very pleased. I wasn't sure
    what it was going to make before the sale, you never know, but
    10.1, I think we'd be very happy. It's a wonderful picture and
    whoever bought it is a very lucky person." said Henry Wyndham,
    the auctioneer on the night and Chairman of Sotheby's Europe.

    Other paintings in the auction included 'Au Parc
    Monceau' another work by Monet that was found to be one of
    many paintings taken from a Jewish family in the 1930s in
    Germany.

    Sotheby's discovered this when they were given the painting
    and the descendants were found.

    The new owners have now come to agreement with the family
    it was taken from over the proceeds of the sale. The painting
    was expected to sell for 2 to 3 million pounds, but like the
    haystacks broke its estimate selling at 3.7 million.


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