CLAUDE MONET (1840-1926)
Provenance
François Fayette, Argenteuil, acquired from the artist in January 1877Mme Edouard Landrin, Paris, by descent from the above, by circa 1931; estate sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 25-26 November 1936, lot 22
Private Collection, acquired at the above sale by another member of the Landrin family
Galerie Nathan, Zurich (no. C-1912)
Private Collection, Switzerland, acquired from the above circa 1977, and thence by descent
Private Collection, acquired from the above by the present owner
Literature
D. Wildenstein, Claude Monet, Biograph...More...ie et catalogue raisonné, vol. I, Paris, 1974, no. 239, p. 216 (illustrated p. 217; with incorrect dimensions)P.H. Tucker, Monet at Argenteuil, New Haven, 1982, no. 9, pp. 24, 27, 32 & 42 (illustrated p. 28; with incorrect dimensions)
D. Wildenstein, Claude Monet, Catalogue raisonné, vol. II, Cologne, 1996, no. 239, p. 105 (illustrated; with incorrect dimensions)
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History
Argenteuil was not exclusively Monet’s domain during the 1870s, but the six years he spent here and the superb paintings that came of that time and place are at the nexus of the Impressionist movement. In a collective sense, it not only proved to be that movement’s formative years and the most exciting period of its existence — painters working predominately outdoors and often side-by-side, using pure, unmixed colors with unblended, visually stimulating brushstrokes, but it is upon Monet’s lead when he settled here in December 1871 that this small hamlet and recreational center became a vibrant hub for the emerging movement that included scenes of the area by Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, Édouard Manet, and Gustave Caillebotte. John Rewald rightfully observed that “probably no single place could be identified more closely with Impressionism than Argenteuil,’ (J. Rewald, The History of Impressionism, New York, 1973, p. 341). But it is important to acknowledge it was Monet’s robust strength of his character and talent that had everything to do with the sudden emergence of Impressionism at this time and this place of beauty.
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MARKET INSIGHTS
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Since 1976, Monet paintings have increased at an 8.3% annual rate of return
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Of the approximately 1,900 paintings by Monet in existence, there are currently about 800 paintings owned privately worldwide that could ever come up for sale. Over time, many of the 800 works held privately will inevitably make their way into museum collections, further limiting supply.
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In recent periods of economic uncertainty, we have seen many of our wealthiest international clients seek blue-chip artworks, particularly Monet paintings, as investments because they are tangible, portable assets.
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Monet’s Argenteuil paintings, such as “L’Ancienne rue de la Chaussée, Argenteuil” (1872), are some of the artist’s most recognizable and important works due to their role in the developing Impressionist movement. Major museum collections worldwide include paintings from this transformative period in the artist’s oeuvre.
Top Results at Auction
Comparable Paintings Sold at Auction
- The highest price paid for a Monet painting from this period
- A scene from the same city, Argenteuil
- Includes a beautiful sky and reflections in the water that show Monet’s mastery of capturing the effects of light
- Depicts the famous Paris train terminal, a favorite subject of the Impressionists
- One of the top results at auction for an 1870s painting
- The treatment of the figures in this scene are comparable to those in our painting
- A coastal scene painted two years prior to “L’Ancienne rue de la Chaussée, Argenteuil”
- This scene includes multiple desirable elements, such as buildings at the coast, figures, and a breathtaking impressionistic sky
- Another Argenteuil scene painted the same year with a soft color palette and atmospheric effect comparable to our painting
- Sold for over $9.2 million nearly ten years ago, and the Monet market has increased considerably since then
Monet’s Paintings of Argenteuil in Museum Collections
