US · International contemporary art platformSotheby’s Paris has announced the upcoming sale of 28 artworks from the Schlumberger collection, scheduled for October 22, 2026. The centerpiece 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 set for 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 features avant-garde works by artists such as Paul Cézanne, Pierre Bonnard, Gustave Moreau, Chaïm Soutine, and Georges Rouault, representing a range of modern art movements.
‘Iris’ and two other paintings from the collection have been designated as national treasures by French authorities. This designation gives the French state a 30-month window to consider acquiring these works before they can be sold to private buyers.
Coinciding with the auction, two exhibitions focused 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 artistic legacy.
The sale of ‘Iris’ and the Schlumberger collection highlights the ongoing interest in Impressionist and modern art in France and offers a rare opportunity to acquire works of significant cultural importance.
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