A Monet masterpiece not seen in public for more than a century was unveiled today.
Prairie de Limetz
by Claude Monet is expected to fetch up to £3 million sterling at a landmark sale of Impressionist and modern art at Christie's next month.
The media were given a glimpse of the work, which is one of a number of paintings prepared by Christie's staff before they go on public exhibition in New York. They will then be on view in London where they will go on sale on February 4th.
The auction will also include a Renoir tipped to sell for up to £6 million sterling, and works by Manet and Cezanne.
Monet's painting depicts the iconic poplar trees on the bank of the River Epte near the artist's home in Giverny, France.
The oil on canvas work was purchased directly from his studio shortly after he painted it in 1888 and has not been on public display since 1889.
The other works include Pierre-Auguste Renoir's Le premier pas(estimated at £4 million to £6 million), Paul Cezanne's Maisons a Valhermeil vues en direction d'Auvers-sur-Oise(estimated at £2.8 million to £3.5 million) and Edouard Manet's Portrait de Mademoiselle Isabelle Lemonnier(estimated at £2 million to £3 million).
"Not since the auction following our sale of Van Gogh's Sunflowersin 1987 has Christie's arranged a sale of such outstanding quality in London," said Jussi Pylkknen, international director of Impressionist and modern art at Christie's in London.
PA