Christie’s Hosts Four Major Auctions During Paris Art Week 2026

Christie’s Paris Art Week 2026 was marked by a series of four auctions held on October 22 and 23, with a total estimated value exceeding €100 million. The auctions presented works from four landmark collections: the Durand-Ruel family, Antonio Homem Sonnabend, Marlene and Spencer Hays, and the “Radiant Modernism” Collection. Each collection brought together significant pieces spanning Impressionism, Modern, Post-War, and Contemporary art.

The public exhibitions for Paris Art Week were open from October 16 to 22, located near the Art Basel fair at the Grand Palais. These exhibitions allowed visitors to preview the artworks before the auctions. On October 19, a press preview was held at 4:00 p.m., followed by a preview event during the MaSH (Matignon Saint-Honoré) association’s evening from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The auction schedule began on October 22 at 2:30 p.m. with the “Durand-Ruel: Generations of Visions” auction. This was followed at 3:30 p.m. by the “20th/21st Century: Paris Evening Sale,” which included the “Thinking Italian” segment. The next day, October 23, opened with the “Modern Art Sale” at 10:00 a.m., featuring works from both the Durand-Ruel and Marlene and Spencer Hays collections. The final auction, “Contemporary Art Day Sale Paris,” took place at 4:00 p.m. on October 23.

Among the highlights of the auctions was Claude Monet’s “Bord des falaises à Pourville,” estimated at €11–15 million. This painting had remained in the Durand-Ruel family for more than 140 years. Another notable work was Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “Jeunes filles au bord de la mer,” valued between €4 and 6 million, which has been lent to some of the world’s leading museums.

The Antonio Homem Sonnabend Collection was recognized for its exceptional group of major Post-War and Contemporary artworks. This collection also included photographs, prints, multiples, and design pieces, adding to the diversity of the offerings at the auctions.

The “Modern Art Sale” on October 23 included works from both the Durand-Ruel collection and the Marlene and Spencer Hays collection. This sale provided an opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces from two significant private collections.

Overall, the four auctions during Christie’s Paris Art Week 2026 brought together a wide array of important artworks from renowned collections, offering collectors and art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to engage with masterpieces from different periods and movements.