A Monet painting expected to fetch up to £30 million at auction has gone on show today at Sotheby’s.
Le Palais Ducal, one of the artist’s depictions of the Doge’s palace on the Venice Grand Canal, is part of a collection valued at about £124 million that will go under the hammer in a Impressionist and Modern Art sale at the auction house next week.
Monet originally said Venice was “too beautiful to paint” on his arrival in the Italian city in 1908, but went on to capture three views of the palace. The version going on sale has not been put on the market since 1925.
Helena Newman, chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, said: “This spellbinding painting is a true masterpiece and among the very greatest Monet painted during his first and only encounter with Venice.
“It presents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a painting of this quality that is fresh to the market.”
The collection, which also includes Kandinsky, Schiele and Picasso, is on public view from today until the sale on February 26 and 27.
