Monet takes over the spring art auctions The May 2022 modern art auctions include a large group of paintings by Claude Monet, spanning nearly every stage of his career. By G. Fernandez - theartwolf.com - Image: "Le Grand Canal et Santa Maria della Salute" (1908). Oil on canvas, 73.5 x 92.5 cm. "Le Grand Canal et Santa Maria della Salute", 1908. To be auctioned at Sotheby's, May 17, 2022. Pre-sale estimate around $50 million. The painting is one of six views of the Grand Canal and the Church of Santa Maria della Salute painted by Monet in 1908, and one of three that include the stairs of the Palazzi Barbaro, from where Monet painted the six views. The recent rise in value of Monet's works makes Sotheby's estimate seem quite appropriate. In 2015, another of Monet's Grand Canal views was auctioned at Sotheby's London for £23.7 million (about $35.6 million, or more than $42 million today taking inflation into account), a similar result to that achieved in 2019 by "Le Palais Ducal," painted by Monet also in 1908, and auctioned for £27.5 million (about $36.4 million) at Sotheby's London. Claude Monet - Le Parlement soleil couchant - 1903Claude Monet - Le Parlement soleil couchant - 1903 2 Images: Claude Monet (1840-1926), "Le Parlement, soleil couchant", 1903, oil on canvas. Version going on auction next May (left) and version sold for $40.5 million in 2015 (right). "Le Parlement, soleil couchant," 1903. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 12, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $40 million and $60 million. "Le Parlement, soleil couchant" is one of 19 views of the Houses of Parliament painted by Claude Monet. Compared to the version auctioned seven years ago for $40.5 million, this painting is somewhat more monotonous, and quite similar to a version held at the Kunstmuseen in Krefeld, and even to another version auctioned in 2004 (also by Christie's) for $20.2 million. "Nymphéas,", 1907. Oil on canvas, 93.8 x 89.3 cm. "Nymphéas," 1907. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 12, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $35 million and $55 million. Despite the fact that the most famous "Nymphéas" are those of monumental scale, such as those exhibited at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, the smaller scale format allowed Monet to create very balanced compositions, of which this painting -very similar to one exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston- is an excellent example. Three years ago, Sotheby's auctioned in London other a "Nymphéas" of identical format, similar date, and less attractive than the present work, for £23.7 million (about $31 million at the then exchange rate). "Peupliers au bord de l'Epte," 1891. Oil on canvas, 101 x 65.7 cm. "Peupliers au bord de l'Epte," 1891. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 12, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $30 million and $50 million. A very good example of the artist's "Peupliers" series, and the only relevant version to come to auction in over ten years, since "Les Peupliers" were auctioned at Christie's for $22.5 million in 2011. "Les Arceaux de roses, Giverny" (1913). Oil on canvas, 81.5 by 93.8 cm. "Les Arceaux de roses, Giverny," 1913. To be auctioned at Sotheby's, May 17, 2022. Estimate on request.  Part of a short series of three paintings of very similar composition, one of which is owned by the Phoenix Art Museum. This is a very attractive work, showing the artist's garden in its splendor, which may be handicapped by the fact that it is an “old acquaintance” of the art market, having been auctioned in 2017 (Sotheby's) for $19.4 million, and in 2007 (Christie's) for £9 million. "La mare, effet de neige,", 1874-75. Oil on canvas, 60 x 81 cm. "La mare, effet de neige," 1874-75. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 12, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $18 million and $25 million. Painted at the height of Impressionism, exhibited at the Fourth Impressionist Exhibition, and having remained in the same private collection for over 70 years, "La mare, effet de neige" is an excellent Impressionist painting. In 2017, "Le Givre" another of the paintings created by Monet in Argenteuil during the winter of 1874 to 1875, and somewhat smaller in size (50 x 61 cm) than the present work, was auctioned by Christie's for $7.2 million. "Champ D'Avoine et de Coquelicots,", 1890. oil on canvas, 65 x 92.1 cm. "Champ D'Avoine et de Coquelicots," 1890. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 12, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $12 million and $18 million. The painting, which has the undeniable appeal of having remained in the same private collection for more than a century, is one of a series of five paintings of nearly identical composition painted by Monet in 1890. One of these five versions was auctioned by Christie's in 1998 for £2.15 million. "L'arbre en boule, Argenteuil,", 1876. oil on canvas, 60 x 81 cm. "L'arbre en boule, Argenteuil," 1876. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 12, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $7 million and $10 million. In this somewhat melancholy-looking painting, reminiscent of the "almost academic" (or at least as academic as Monet can be) landscapes painted in Montgeron around the same date, the artist presents a partial view of the village of Argenteuil from the opposite bank of the Seine River. The painting was sold in 2006 for £2.2 million ($4.1 million). "Soleil couchant, temps brumeux, Pourville," 1882. oil on canvas, 61.5 x 74.3 cm. "Soleil couchant, temps brumeux, Pourville," 1882. To be auctioned at Christie's, May 14, 2022. Pre-sale estimate of between $2.5 million and $3.5 million. With a pre-sale estimate much lower than the other paintings on this list, reflecting its somewhat schematic nature, this is nevertheless a work of great interest, reflecting the artist's "au plein air" work. The painting -almost expressionist in appearance- was last auctioned in 2002, fetching $614,500.

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