A drawing by Claude Monet found in the Gironde and soon to be sold at auction

Le Figaro Bordeaux

The drawing is signed by a young artist, who still uses his first name: Oscar Monet. Born Oscar Claude Monet and better known by his preferred middle name, the French painter belongs to a number of great Impressionists who have passed down generations to come. Water lilies are a dream come true at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, and every hand-signed leaf sparks great excitement. One of them was found in the home of a resident of Andernos, in the Arcachon basin, six months ago. Under his pen appear the features of a man who could be one of his contemporaries: the French painter Jules Didier.

Although it will probably never be possible to confirm the identity of the model whose photo was taken by the young Claude Monet, the post has been verified. He would have done it probably It was made between 1857 and 1860. “It is a great discovery, because Monet is one of the 25 greatest painters in the world.”Florian Arar is happy. Based on its owner’s question, the expert in the Jiruden art had the good sense to call for expertise. The price of the painting, conducted by the Wildenstein Institute, which is a reference for the works of Impressionism, is estimated at between 30,000 and 40,000 euros. It is scheduled to be auctioned by Jean Dit Cazaux & Associés on April 18 in Bordeaux.

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Full signature

“This drawing by Claude Monet is very interesting because it is completely signed and not written in just one letter, which is very rare in drawings that have been found and documented.”“, emphasizes Professor Philippe Royer from the beginning. A notable feature for which this caricature will be added to the painter’s catalog raisonné (in other words the inventory of his works) by the Wildenstein Institute. An important distinction for collectors according to the auctioneer who also agrees with its estimate. “It’s not oil, so this fee shouldn’t sell for three times its estimate, but it could face a slight overshoot.”it measures.

The reasons that prompted the owner of this piece, Claude Monet, to abandon it are still unknown. According to Mr. Philippe Royer, it will be an inheritance that has been in his family’s possession since the purchase in an auction room in Saône-et-Loire, in 1965. If the deed of transfer exists, the exact amount will be determined by the auction held at the time. However, this Monet drawing might have already found a buyer: interest in it had already been expressed to the auctioneer.