A painting which has not been seen by the public in over 70 years is expected to sell for £19 million when it goes under the hammer in London later this month.
The sale of the Nymphaeus at the capital's Sotheby's auction house, said to be the most important of Monet's paintings and part of his water lilies series, is seen by some as confirmation of London's pre-eminence on the world art stage.
Recognised as one of the works which influenced abstract art – the painting has no horizon – it was last shown in Paris in 1936 and, unlike many valuable works, it has not undergone any cleaning or restoration.
In the same week, Lucian Freud, who famously painted a portrait of a naked and pregnant Kate Moss, is expected to become the most expensive living artist when his work Bruce Bernard goes on sale at Christie's.
Other famous artists also going under the hammer include Warhol, Hockney and Bacon. The cumulative value of artworks auctioned off during that week is expected to reach £474 million.
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