Monet’s ‘Iris’ to Lead Schlumberger Collection Auction in Paris

Sotheby’s Paris has announced an auction of 28 works from the Schlumberger collection, scheduled for 22 October 2026. The highlight of the sale is Claude Monet’s painting ‘Iris’, which carries an estimate of €22–30 million. This is the highest estimate ever given for a painting at auction in France. The total value of the sale is expected to exceed €40 million.

The Schlumberger collection was assembled from 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.

Three paintings in the auction have been designated as “national treasures”. This status allows the French state a 30-month window to consider acquiring these works, which could keep them in France.

Coinciding with the auction, two exhibitions about 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”.

The auction draws attention to the significance of the Schlumberger collection and the ongoing interest in Monet’s art. Collectors and art enthusiasts are expected to follow the sale closely.