A remarkable selection of four iconic artworks by Claude Monet, Paul Signac, Edgar Degas, and Fernand Léger is set to grace the auction floor at Sotheby's London this spring. Scheduled for March 4, these pieces are part of the Modern and Contemporary evening sale, with a collective high estimate reaching an impressive £24 million.
Leading the collection is Monet's Maison de Jardinier (1884), a captivating piece that reflects the artist's time spent on the Italian Riviera, showcasing the renowned garden of Francesco Moreno in Bordighera. Sotheby's has placed a high estimate of £8.5 million on this exceptional work, which is a rare find in the market, as many of Monet's Italian creations are housed in esteemed institutions like the Musée d'Orsay and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The trio of additional paintings includes Signac's Marseille, Le Port (1934) and Léger's Les Hommes dans la Ville (1919), both estimated at £6 million, alongside Degas' Scène de Ballet (circa 1885), with a high estimate of £3.5 million.
Helena Newman, Sotheby's chairman for Europe and modern art, expressed, "This collection encapsulates a rich history of modernism, traversing Impressionism, Pointillism, and Cubism. Each piece is a treasure, marked by outstanding quality and notable provenance." She further highlighted the significance of Monet's work, which coincides with the centenary of his passing, drawing renewed interest from museums globally.
Signac's Marseille, le port enters the auction scene amidst a revitalized focus on neo-impressionism, following a recent exhibition at London's National Gallery.
These masterpieces will be displayed to the public at Sotheby's New York from February 11 to 13 before arriving in London on February 26. The auction will also feature works by renowned artists like Donald Judd and Edvard Munch.
