Monet’s Le Grand Canal et Santa Maria della Salute sells for record £45 million
The piece has joined a series of Monet masterworks that have sold for more than £40.1 million in consecutive New York sales at Sotheby’s.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Claude Monet’s Le Grand Canal et Santa Maria della Salute has gone under the hammer for 56.6 million dollars (£45 million), making it the most valuable view of Italy by any artist sold at auction.
The piece has joined a series of Monet masterworks that have sold for more than 50 million dollars (£40.1 million) in consecutive New York sales at Sotheby’s auction house.
The previous record sale for any view of Italy was achieved by Turner’s Rome, From Mount Aventine, which sold at Sotheby’s in London for 47.6 million dollars (£37.4 million) in 2014.
The sum also makes the painting the most valuable painting of Venice by the artist sold at auction.
Monet’s previous record was 36.5 million dollars (£29.6 million) achieved by Le Palais Ducal, sold at Sotheby’s in London in 2019.
Channeling the magic of the water-based city on canvas, Le Grand Canal showcases pure brushstrokes of colour and light.
“Le Grand Canal is a pivotal work that bridges the artist’s ground-breaking Impressionist innovations and their continued evolution into a more freeform abstract approach,” Sotheby’s said.
Many canvases created by Monet during his three-month trip to Venice in 1908 are in prominent international museum collections, such as the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Fine Art Museums of San Francisco.
The trip produced a series of 37 paintings capturing Venice’s world-famous views.
Le Grand Canal et Santa Maria della Salute features in Sotheby’s Modern Evening Auction, which ended the evening having totalled 408.5 million dollars (£325.5 million) – the third highest total for any sale held at Sotheby’s.
Elsewhere, Pablo Picasso’s Large-Scale Portrait of Marie-Thérèse Walter sold for 67.5 million dollars (£54 million).
“The two titans of modern art – Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet – squared off tonight as the standard-bearers for the market and the foundation for another record-setting night at Sotheby’s,” said Brooke Lampley, Sotheby’s chairman & worldwide head of sales for global fine art.
“Both works sold tonight showcased the artists at the height of their powers, with each representing a distinct moment of transformation that would play a pivotal role in defining their respective careers.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.