Monet and Christie's Smash Records in London

LONDON—A rare and large-scale Claude Monet Nympheas from 1919 sold at Christie’s London for an artist record of £40,921,250 ($80,451,178), which is also the highest price for a work of art sold by Christie’s in Europe. The estimate was £18–24 million. The painting, one of four oversized signed and dated works by Monet from that period, sold to London-based art adviser Tania Buckrell Pos, who was buying for an anonymous client. “I’m delighted,” said Buckrell Pos moments after the sale, “My client is a true connoisseur. It’s a truly exceptional piece, and the market continues to prove itself. And people will pay for quality.”

The painting last appeared at auction at Sotheby’s Parke Bernet in May 1971, when it sold for $320,000. It was offered by collector Norton Simon and purchased by J. Irwin and Xenia S. Miller of Columbus, Indiana, whose estate consigned the work to this evening's sale.

The Monet was part of a record-breaking sale of Impressionist and Modern art that earned a total of £144,440,500 ($283,970,023).

Judd Tully is Editor at Large of Art+Auction.