Claude Monet's "Nymphéas" Set for Historic Auction Debut in Hong Kong

Claude Monet’s iconic "Nymphéas," one of the earliest works in his celebrated Water Lilies series, is set to make its historic auction debut at Christie’s Inaugural Evening Sale at The Henderson in Hong Kong on September 26, 2024. This masterpiece, painted between 1897 and 1899, has been held in private collections for 125 years and will now be offered to the public for the first time, with an estimated value of HK$200,000,000 – 280,000,000 (US$ 25,000,000 – 35,000,000).

This particular "Nymphéas" stands out as one of the very first in the series to explore Monet's beloved water-lily pond at his home in Giverny. The piece is notable not only for its age and provenance but also for its size, measuring 73.3 x 101 cm. Its auction marks a significant event in the art world, as other paintings from this pioneering series are housed in major museums, including the Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Cristian Albu, Deputy Chairman and Head of 20th/21st Century Art at Christie’s Asia Pacific, emphasized the rarity of this auction: "As one of the few remaining works from Monet’s first Water Lilies series still in private hands, this painting is a true singular treasure. We are privileged to present it to discerning collectors in Asia."

Adrien Meyer, Global Head of Private Sales and Co-Chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie's, added, "Claude Monet's 'Nymphéas' are among the most influential images in modern art history. This work reveals the pictorial innovations that would define his celebrated series."

"Nymphéas" exemplifies Monet’s revolutionary approach to landscape painting, where he eliminated the horizon line and focused entirely on the interplay between water, atmosphere, and light. This technique would come to define the Water Lilies series and influence countless artists in the decades that followed.

Ahead of the auction, the painting will be on public display in several cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, providing collectors and art enthusiasts with a rare opportunity to view this masterpiece in person before it enters a new chapter in its storied history. The auction is part of Christie’s broader series of inaugural sales at their new Asia Pacific headquarters, which will also feature other significant works from the 20th and 21st centuries.