Two rare Claude Monet paintings depicting landscapes have resurfaced after more than 100 years in a private family collection and will be among the highlights of Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Art auction in Paris later this month.
Their reappearance marks a significant moment for collectors and scholars alike, as both works exemplify the mastery of the French painter, one of the leading figures of Impressionism, at key stages in his career.
The first painting, Les Îles de Port‑Villez (1897), captures the Seine near Giverny with Monet’s signature interplay of light and water. Painted during his mature period, the canvas reflects his fascination with shifting weather conditions and the way the river surface dissolves into shimmering reflections.
The second painting, Vétheuil, Effet du Matin (1878), dates to an earlier phase when Monet lived in Vétheuil and experimented with the effects of morning light.
Both works remained in the same private family collection for more than a century and are appearing at auction for the first time since their original acquisition. They are expected to sell for €12m-€18m.
The paintings will be auctioned at Sotheby’s Paris on 16 April 2026.