Monet’s ‘Iris’ to Lead Schlumberger Collection Sale at Sotheby’s Paris

On October 22, 2026, Sotheby’s Paris will auction 28 artworks from the Schlumberger collection. The highlight of the sale is Claude Monet’s painting ‘Iris’, which carries an estimate of €22–30 million. This is the highest estimate ever given for a painting at auction in France, and the total sale is expected to exceed €40 million.

The Schlumberger collection was assembled beginning in the 1950s, with Schlumberger working closely with Parisian dealer Katia Granoff. Their efforts focused on acquiring avant-garde works and pieces from significant periods, including artists such as Paul Cézanne, Pierre Bonnard, Gustave Moreau, Chaïm Soutine, and Georges Rouault.

Three paintings in the sale have been designated as “national treasures” by the French state. This designation gives the state 30 months to consider acquiring these works before they can be sold internationally.

Coinciding with the auction, two exhibitions about Monet’s life and work will open in Paris at the end of September: “Monet, Painting Time” and “Stories of Landscapes, from Monet to Hockney.”

The sale underscores the ongoing interest in Impressionist and avant-garde art, while the national treasure status highlights the cultural significance of these works in France.