Monet's Water Lilies Sell for $65.5 Million After 17-Minute Bidding Battle | Sotheby's

[@llchapman1234]

This breaks my heart as eventually most great works will be too expensive for museums and end up being in private collections, never to be appreciated by the public again 😢.

[@catherinesecula5287]

Are you not aware that famous Museums, do not always expose the authentic painting ,but a copy for few raison ,insurance, and major scam in the painting art world 😂..

[@keefriff99]

Get used to it…the entire planet is being sold off to the highest bidder. We’re nothing but ants to the oligarchy, and it’s only going to get worse.

[@ceejayrox23]

@@llchapman1234 wikcommons has numerous works available for art that's copyright has expired. Also many museums websites do too.

[@Bron32]

Many of the displays in museums are actually from private collections that are on loan to museums/galleries

[@bambinaforever1402]

I bought one in San Francisco for 20$. Natural size. I m enjoying it on my bedroom wall

[@tccandler]

I wouldn't pay a penny over 58 million for this painting. Simply not worth 59 million.

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

simply because u don't have it and don't understanding it all so its all yapping on internet

[@tubalcain1039]

Good one!

[@Teeveepicksures]

New Money, amirite?

[@faizanulkarim2310]

@@user-ob9zo9cr4cas if you have😂😂😂😂

[@BonnieYates-yg2iv]

😅

[@Zealor365]

What's funny is that I bought the framed poster for $47 and enjoy it just as much, saving almost $60 Million!

[@lizabetx483]

Most people just want to enjoy the art but these buyers are seeking ways to grow their asset portfolio.

[@leonardodalongisland]

Almost :)

[@chemicalfrankie1030]

It’s an investment, not an expense. Your poster will lose value, that painting will gain it, and it is perfect to launder money as added benefit…

[@benwakefield93]

You saved more than 60 million. You saved $65,499,953 😂

[@matureyoungman]

@@benwakefield93 5.5 million dollars isn't pocket change

[@mh4zd]

We need to do an auction swap, where a Texas livestock auctioneer does the Monet, and this guy does cattle, in this slow, suspenseful way.

[@louizagolitzina2827]

I wish that Texas auctioneer know the art!;)

[@TheTonecii]

That would be a hit 😅

[@louizagolitzina2827]

Especially when auctioneer didn’t know a difference between Monet and Manet:);)Real hit!:)

[@prima808]

😆😆😆

[@bauerdraws6163]

Hilarious. I'd watch that.

[@jevans9359]

We all want to live comfortably, but I’m pretty sure Monet was just looking at the beauty of what was in front of him.

[@leonardodalongisland]

He and the artist in his "group" would not never these prices.

[@VangoghsDoggo]

He was and he was trying to make a living at it. The French Salon, you might call them the establishment, didn't like the up and coming artists. They were not included in the Salon and didn't have any sales because of it. Monet was one of the first to finally get in. He sold his work to live and support his family. The French and Europe in general appreciate the arts and do far more to support artists. Think about the rebuild of Notre Dame. The French had everything that was needed to do that. There are wood workers from around the world that know how to frame with green oak, but the rest are mostly from France. The company that cleaned the bells, they were the ones that cast them originally. We don't support the arts in the US. It's rare to make a living at it unless you are in a major city with an established European culture or a lot of money.

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@VangoghsDoggo The French, like the rest of Western Europe (The Actual "Europe") don't necessarily "support" independent artist but they are the place ART came from and they have a much longer and greater history, love of and respect for art. Whereas, most Americans are as knowledgeable about art as a box of crackers.

[@k-asp3r754]

​@@VangoghsDoggobullshit...maybe at the beginning,but he was a wealthy painter.you Just ready the beginning of his biografy

[@nathanielalgernon975]

67 Million!! Am I too late?

[@TaiyouArt]

Not at all , offer the buyer 85 million I heard they’re taking new bids!

[@boater_rob]

No. You're in time. Please give your bank details and we'll take care of the rest 😂

[@francesw.6774]

Yes, you are too late, but I have a nice Elvis painting on black velvet that I could let you have for just 50 million.

[@katharinatrub1338]

...and then, and then, you discover, ....it is a fake ? ; ))

[@thehungrygoldfish]

I’ll sell it to you for free! Is that OK?! 😂😂😂😂

[@leoniecarrington6804]

Such a patient and calm auctioneer.

[@zoickn]

Cuz he knows the money is not his.

[@katehobbs2008]

British.

[@MatimoreAgain]

All of them actually.

[@julianmx13]

Why isn’t the auctioneer a country sounding fella talking at 9.5x speed? Shame

[@CynthiaN.6005]

Excellent auctioneer

[@Slowphoton]

I hope this painting ends up in a museum. Having such a masterpiece in a for few eyes private collection feels wrong.

[@ColeenFogle]

Might be mistaken but I think that painting was included at the Monet exhibit in San Diego a few yesrs ago. It's absolutely beautiful. Hope the very wealthy new owner will be lending it to museums worldwide to give people the thrill of seeing it❤

[@lcfflc3887]

It's just a painting lol

[@nocashback]

It will go into a “free port” to avoid paying tax on the sale and sold in a few years for a profit.

[@Elisheval]

The museum has to pay the insurance cost if they are renting it... Not many can.

[@ablueprofilepic9876]

​@@nocashback pretty much

[@kalnfornia]

You’re right. There was a Monet exhibit at the Balboa Park museum in San Diego years ago

[@rainesonne1320]

This is one of my favorite paintings!

[@jjharris8341]

You see his waterlilies in photos on posters, on scarves, on calendars--ho hum--then you see one in person and it knocks you out cold. The depth.

[@SherryHill-k5y]

@@jjharris8341 Monet's artworks take your breath away.

[@bonsummers2657]

Are you serious? What's more in visual effect about the original than a print?

[@hom296]

I saw a large Monet water-lily painting in New York years ago and it letterly stopped me in my tracks. I was an art major in college, and I've seen Monet's in books my whole life, but you are right...when you see one in person, it takes the wind out of you!

[@ET-yp9vc]

I had never liked Monet’s haystacks. I thought they were boring. Then, I saw an original in Vegas. Each stack is made up of millions of different colours. Breathtaking!

[@SherryHill-k5y]

@@hom296 Seeing an artwork in person is a totally different thing.

[@jossfan]

Was in Paris for the first time and desperately wanted to see The Waterlilies. Mistakenly believed it to be in the Musée D'Orsay, so hared off there. Blasted through all the rooms not looking at anything to avoid Museum burnout. Accidentally fell into the Van Gogh room and stopped dead. Caught sight of the painting of his bedroom with the chair and slid down the wall sobbing. Nothing can possibly prepare you for the real thing.

[@AlekSandra665]

We have Water Lilies in The Art Institute of Chicago. We have the largest Monet collection outside of Paris.

[@fredsimmons2793]

Don McCleans song about Vincent,as sung by the Mona Lisa Twins,opens the door for me into the remarkable life of this beautiful man's suffering.TO be in the presence of his work would be overwhelming.Thanks for sharing.

[@jossfan]

Thanks for understanding.

[@bambinaforever1402]

They were not in musee d orsay. They were next to glass gallery on champ d elisee. I saw them all. Massive paintings

[@jossfan]

Yes I know. Although the Musée D'Orsay houses many of Monet's paintings, The Waterlilies have always been in the Musée D'Orangerie.which is in the Tuileries Gardens.

[@katiem6773]

Monet was such an amazing painter. I have the water lilies on a mug and that's good enough for me.

[@tommyvercetti1119]

Only clicked for the comments. Thank you for the sanity check

[@craditya]

Why does it say 65.5 when it went for 59? Auction fees?

[@tonycruise]

taxes

[@EnnuiMachine]

And fees

[@frag0638]

@@tonycruise taxes LOL as if

[@joependleton6293]

One of the most beautiful colour works ever, paintings like this with its brightness are rare! Monet. 🌿

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

It's the most dumb thing I've ever seen. 50$ million!! That's beyond dumb.

[@joependleton6293]

@dwaynekoblitz6032 The price of historical artifacts & art is always going to be of interest, they are treasured after all.

[@pleasureincontempt3645]

Don’t even kid yourself. There are plenty of other wonderful artists without the esteem of a name. This is for bragging rights, and then tax write-offs.

[@francesw.6774]

​@@dwaynekoblitz6032 It's an investment. As an asset, if the owner can sell it down the road for considerably more money, there will be nothing dumb about the money invested into it.

[@lntg]

I simply cannot wrap my head around art. I've been to a lot of art galleries including the Rijks and some of it is impressive but most of it is just weird to me. Same with wine tasting lol. I swear people are just making stuff up to sound sophisticated.

[@navajojohn9448]

A retired friend painted as a hobby. His garage was loaded with paintings and his wife wanted space so he sold them. Some sold at swap shops for $25 to $50. He got a space at a street art fair and sold the paintings for $2500.

[@LilAligator]

Its not the product they want to sell but the lifestyle in which the product funtions.

[@BuffPomsky]

Let the rich waste their money and dumb things haha

[@Mike-ud6hd]

@@BuffPomsky Monet has been dead for 100 years. Widely considered a top 10 piece from one of the most famous and adored painters of all time. This is an investment that will hold reliable value with little management, better than almost any other item on the planet. It would be like owning Michael Jordans championship rings after he died. In the art world this is an amazing piece, but the people buying these items are to invest.

[@Rust_Rust_Rust]

​@@BuffPomsky Pieces by Monet have appreciated at rates of over 10% per year, even in downturns. It's a great way for HNW individuals to diversify.

[@Zak-jt6nk]

I had a friend in high school who was amazing at drawing he would sell his drawings for $20 to students as a freshman and sophomore by junior year he was a contract artist making 1k+ a drawing and did a massive drawing that sold at an auction for 20k pretty sure the kid blew all the money on drugs though he was heavily inspired by psychedelics

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

I painted Starry Night for my brother and its proudly displayed in his house 👍

[@pradipjgurung]

Awesome work, hope your brother is proud of that!

[@bambinaforever1402]

O phleeeease, even a monkey can duplicate van gogh

[@bambinaforever1402]

O phleeeease, even a monkey can duplicate van gogh

[@talkshow5100]

I wonder if my Paint by Numbers dog portrait would sell for this much? 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@Stepphenn]

I bid $60 million dollars…

[@Oceangirl_505]

I have seen this Monet painting in person, it is breathtaking. The most beautiful painting I have ever seen. Also, it is huge, much larger than I could have imagined.

[@naturalroyalflush]

The most patient, persuasive, professional auctioneer I have ever seen.

[@navajojohn9448]

More interesting than the Monet is the banana duct taped to a wall that sold for $6,5 million at Sotheby.

[@melvinsmiley5295]

Literally the dumbest thing I have ever seen.

[@mmayer1558]

Nah the banana is a travesty. Go ahead and waste a banana that somebody could have ate. Go ahead and spend $6 million on it that could have gone to better use. The banana is obviously making fun of the pretentiousness of art, so in some way that's worse than if the artist and the work took itself seriously. The banana pisses me off

[@jannewlove725]

Pure rubbish the banana. Sad comment on society. What is more beneficial 65 million to Sothebys/seller or the North Carolina flood victims?

[@jmatt4life]

I cannot imagine having such wealth. It is interesting to watch.

[@Keepcalm-lovesports]

just for context, it's not always just a single person buying

[@gaiamorgosi7181]

Yes, also there are representatives from museums that participate, some historical museums are trying to get back lost pieces to put into castles, for example.

[@denysedubois9334]

This is a small Water Lillies in the whole series compared to the major ones that are quite large in famous museums worldwide that I have seen in person.

[@Barbara-u5h]

Paris museum has them from ceiling to floor on 4 walls. Houses only Monet works.

[@lundi44]

I was just wondering about the size of this one - thinking that the price was rather low considering how famous the series is. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@lcfflc3887]

Yeah this is a joke and waste of money, mind you the girls on the phone pretending to be talking to someone is probably fake lol

[@denysedubois9334]

@ - No. These are the two legit seating areas, on each side of the auctioneer, where employees of the high end auction houses like Sothebys (with locations worldwide) are talking to bidders from anywhere around the world (even in the USA) who are highly knowledgeable in Fine Art and can speak the language of the bidder and answer questions and advise during the bidding session. So sad that you need to resort to a misogynistic comment to make you feel knowledgeable instead of reading up on how the business works and avoid writing useless comments.

[@DouglasKar-zr6hg]

Think Sotheby's are doing a good job in difficult times - they are putting out a lot of short videos keeping what is going on in the art world in people's minds, even if most of us will never be able to afford it, it is still interesting to view and think about over the ghastly never ending media headlines. Would add that Katya Kazakina's analysis with information of the goings on is informative, very interesting and well worth a read: What Does the Art Market Want Right Now? Reading the Tea Leaves of the $1.2 Billion New York Auction Week

[@ceer9141]

What "media" headlines

[@CVetteMan1111]

Every time I watch one of these auctions, I think about how many people I could feed with this money, how many people I can clothe for this money, how many people I could provide clean drinking water to, how many people I could provide a safer place to live. I like to imagine that if the original artists of these paintings were still alive today, that maybe they would have the same thoughts about humanity.

[@andrewsparks-pb5kn]

The original artists would probably get a well deserved ego trip because they created something that sold for a baller amount of money. 😅

[@goldreverre]

The person who pays millions for a painting has probably also built up business that generated tens or hundreds of millions in wealth that fed and housed employees, provided fresh water, food and safety to thousands of people involved in the upstream supply chains and support businesses.

[@andrewsparks-pb5kn]

@@goldreverre yep, and ideally that buisiness creates agency and opportunity for their employees to one day have the means and experience to start their own business or move to a higher position. Ultimately adding to the economic growth. Building blocks to an ideal free market society.

[@lesliejackson149]

I think about how many endangered species could be saved via sanctuary lands and vigilant safe keepers of. Silly humans keep breeding like rabbits, forever ignorant that the planet won't be able to sustain them in just... a few decades.

[@imcnagpc2]

Maybe it's going to a museum from a very rich donor.

[@nickprotonotarios]

I once bought a painting at Home Goods for $40 USD

[@TaiyouArt]

Expensive.

[@thehungrygoldfish]

I once bought the Mona Lisa for ten rupoees and sold it for 900 trillion dollars.

[@WrongThink_]

@@thehungrygoldfish I once shat in my pants and used it to shine my shoes

[@lcfflc3887]

You sir are a disgrace 🙄 such a waste of cash. 🤣

[@GGLD888]

Explains why the comments section is way more valuable than overpriced delusional art buyers. The world has lost perspective in what is important.

[@stargazeronesixseven]

😊🙏 So happy & delighted to see Master Claude Monet's Water Lilies painting being appreciated & held in such high regard! Thank You So Much for All Fine Arts Appreciators to maintain the appreciation of Fine Arts in this biginning era of AI disruptions ... 🙏🌷🌿🍎🍊🌎✌💜🕊

[@Yeenay-y3d]

This is the most beautiful color ❤️😊

[@mkygod]

The crazy thing this painting is only 1 out of 250 water lily paintings that Monet did. I would've thought that would make it less special.

[@andrzejszpak688]

most of them are in museums and they’re all unique

[@theworld2me]

250!? Dang I thought they were rarer than that.

[@DeenaMilkers]

the rate at which they become available is probably pretty low. this may be a once in a lifetime (or last in a lifetime) event for some

[@lcfflc3887]

People are crazy for getting all hyped up on this trend, it's a painting, colors an fabrics, save your millions and become a part time painter yourself lol.

[@tonycruise]

yea but its one of the best

[@TheOtherKine]

So sad how these are not in museums for all to see

[@louiseporto3266]

A number of panels are at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in NYC. Whenever we go to NYC, we must go to MOMA so that I can walk and then sit in front of them for about 15 minutes.

[@kevinchambers1101]

This one may also go to a museum.

[@Boogeymayne]

Bruh why would you put these in museums when you have these climate nutjobs who would go to said museum and ruin it in while accomplishing nothing in the process besides ruining great pieces of art?

[@RichieRich20000]

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Paris, go to the Musee l’Orangerie. Two rooms of mural-sized Water Lillies. This was the first time in y life that I had an emotional reaction in a museum. They are absolutely spectacular. And please excuse any spelling errors.

[@TheOtherKine]

@@RichieRich20000 I've been to Giverny.

[@Barbara-u5h]

Love water lilies. Saw museum of walls of paintings of water lilies. Extraordinary

[@Barbara-u5h]

In paris.in gardens near the louve

[@tariqcollins2609]

Just stopping by to say hello and give my respect to this Water Lillies by Claude Monet. I love his works and respect this pieve.

[@susanallan9395]

I cried all the way through this. I hope the bidder and new owner of this work treats the object of this purchase with the respect and lawful gentleness this work deserves.

[@opitir]

@@E-the.islander They won't. They'll pay someone to hold it in a vault, and no-one will see it again.

[@daleviker5884]

@@opitir A lot of the time these paintings are loaned to museums to be put on display. You just sound jealous. A lot of great art in museums around the world is privately owned, and that saves a fortune for the community which would otherwise have to spend billions buying them.

[@combatduckie]

@@daleviker5884 so true. and it s a win win sort of as the private art owners also save on expensive security and vault expenses during the time it s loaned out.... :-)

[@SJtoobsox]

Oh shut up

[@williamjacobs9065]

The Chicago Art Institiute has a room full of Monet water lilies.

[@jimness5902]

I saw an exposition by Marc Chagall there in 1998 it was fabulous best collection of renaissance art outside of Europe. The Getty not even close.

[@Barbara-u5h]

Paris has a museum of monets work. Room of water lilies paintings. Wow sat in the room for about an hour. Paintings were from ceiling to floor.covered 4 walls in museum

[@martinanoppeney8591]

Orangerie and Musee des Paumes ​@@Barbara-u5h

[@kathyowens4947]

What are they on the phone discussing? Is it the client theyre bidding for? I imagine the conversation goes something like this: Employee (bidder): price up to $59 million now Client: ummmm....I want it sooooo bad but $60 million!!!??? Ohhhh I dont knowwwww! Employee (bidder): well now its at $62 million Client: awwww hell! What do I do? Employee (bidder): *waits patiently* Client: awww what the hell go for $65 million!

[@leonardodalongisland]

Yes. They are talking with bidders-unable to attend in person.

[@angstrom55]

And here I am debating internally whether I should pay the extra $4 to make my sandwich a combo....lol.

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@angstrom55 I will give you eleven dollars for that sandwich.

[@SherryHill-k5y]

Monet's work is beyond beautiful, but that much? An investor no doubt.

[@RichieRich20000]

Sometimes the buyer prefers to remain anonymous.

[@ogshoeplugogshoeplug5039]

What if I told you this was just one of the ways the rich transfer money. What if I told you the buyer wasn't only buying this ART; but the payment was for something different? What would you say then?

[@jperry6779]

I'd say, "Ooh, you're so smart!".

[@kristenmarie9248]

Hunter Biden. 💯

[@francesw.6774]

What if I told you that you sound ridiculous, even if you have a point.

[@S.L.S-407]

@ogshoeplugogshoeplug50395039- Tell me something I don't know. : )

[@MonsterJuiced]

I was looking for a comment like this.. nobody else see's it. The elites of the art world is all about storing money to evade tax. Like buying property and never living in it. It appreciates in value and will be sold again soon for more, saving the guy on taxes and profiting several million.

[@BobDobbs681]

"The masterpiece ultimately sold for $65.6 million" but the final bid was $59 million. I'm confused.

[@seaturtledog]

plus auction fee.

[@julianmx13]

Ticketmaster sale tax

[@SueASponte]

I wonder if there is sales tax 😅

[@lcfflc3887]

The whole thing could very well be a scam, poor idiot who paid this much, he was probably the only one betting all the time lol 🤣

[@mrfin]

@@lcfflc3887 all the other bidders were hired actors. Lol.

[@jrock2720]

Forget the exorbitant pricing. This is a masterwork and few pieces are quite as overwhelming and breathtaking as Monet's larger compositions.

[@kcor4]

I love reading pretentious comments from people who want to exude sophistication and their clique all come around to fluff each other.

[@lcfflc3887]

This nothing but outrageous, millions of dollars for a piece of fabric with colors on it lol

[@elnopalero4691]

@@lcfflc3887he literally said forget the price you dolt. The painting is pretty is what he basically said since I gotta simplify it for you

[@elnopalero4691]

@@kcor4literally nothing pretentious about this comment unless you’re a caveman

[@Skyhighstandards-uf6qt]

@@kcor4To think that we live in a world where we can’t appreciate amazing art without being called pretentious.

[@Iluvdoxies58]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ wish it were in a museum for everyone to see ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ZadenZane]

I take your point but most of the art I look at I see in art books or on my phone. So even if a piece is in a museum, most people aren't going to see it in person because they're on the wrong side of the world. For most people I don't think it makes much difference. Plus are are a lot of Monets like this in museums across the world anyway. In this case I don't think people are really missing out.

[@davidtydeman1434]

The best Monet water lilles paintings are in the Tuileries gallery in Paris for all to see.

[@RichieRich20000]

@@davidtydeman1434 in the Musée l’Orangerie now.

[@thewinesmith]

Maybe a museum bought it? Or the oerson that buys it might donate it for a tax break?

[@monicaambs]

My sister painted me a rough copy and I love mine. Not the original but loved just the same.

[@WrongThink_]

What an odd way to tell everyone you own a forgery.

[@catherinesecula5287]

She made with lot of love, I am sure ..take care both of you

[@PabloMacias-x1t]

This painting is going to reach 100 million at some point.

[@emptymannull]

Captain Obvious, we got Captain Obvious here! See, no one cares...

[@Reddoguk]

Mad how a bit of paint is worth 60m+. I hope it's like gold and will only increase in value over time.

[@PaulaZF]

The waiting between bids was excruciating. What were the bidders doing? Searching under couch cushions to be able to place the next bid?

[@francesw.6774]

I can tell you that in every auction I watch this goes on to some degree and it drives me batty. It's just people with money f-ing around and wasting people's time.

[@daleviker5884]

@@francesw.6774 I missed the part where someone holds a gun to your head and forces you to watch. And I missed the part where the art collector told the agent to stretch it out just to annoy internet randoms.

[@francesw.6774]

@@daleviker5884 I watch auctions (usually live) and sometimes I attend auctions because I'm an art collector and dealer and actually buy and sell paintings, genius. And if you had any real experience with auctions, you'd know that phone bidders in particular are notorious for dithering and delaying before deciding whether to make another bid, or hold off to the last second when the auctioneer has given fair warning to close a lot before bidding again. Stick to a topic you know something about, like finger painting.

[@francesw.6774]

@@daleviker5884 You can dish it out but can't take it, little troll.

[@eddywiyana5524]

I participated in some of these auctions. The waiting time usually for the staff to calculate the total price including buyer’s fee, as the buyer fee has different percentages according to the bracket price, which is not very simle to figure out

[@TheFlyrodder68]

So many people can be fed and healed with such amount of money.

[@macroevolve]

These Bidders throw around 200K like I throw around a Nickle

[@KatrenaS]

There are no earthly words to describe the beauty in this painting ❤

[@markypolo5527]

Shutup and read a bible

[@ambarishjay1261]

i was expecting it to cross 100. why so low ?

[@meeeka]

Money is going to be harder to get soon.

[@daleviker5884]

The price was low because there's not just one water lily painting, but many of them. I had to throw a couple out last year to fit a mirror in the spare room.

[@claires1177]

OMG! I will never forget when I saw this beautiful painting at the MOMA in NYC!!

[@sallyseaward5865]

Parent: What do you want to become ? Child: An artist Parent: Nah, no money in that

[@Jaded368]

Right though not until you're dead and then u can't enjoy it

[@ALadynamedBug]

Indeed, a legacy of beauty! I hope the new proud owner will loan the painting to museums across the globe for the public to enjoy, behind a bullet proof glass, of course!

[@MACTRUQUE]

Rare art moment in many respects.

[@TaniaSaucy]

The fact that that much money is paid, sometimes by people representing governmental groups buying on behalf of their unaware citizens, these works of Art for their Museums, pisses me off tremendously. $65 Mill would solve so many social issues which the taxpayer believes to pay taxes for. Who is the private individual that would reduce his/her bank account in that amount for a painting that he/she would have to guard with their lives if at Home?

[@kevinmacpherson3084]

Did anyone else see del boy trotter faint at the drop of that hammer in some distant parallel universe ..

[@kevinfelix2543]

The suspense,, the auctioneer is just enjoyin it. i love how he keeps making it sound like its the end when they were jumpin around 58 59.

[@leonardodalongisland]

So the previous buyer/owner paid-Sydell Miller (approx) $40M-after fees, they'll walk away with (at least) $20M!!! And Monet probably got $100 for it initially....WHO has this kind of money????

[@dougl945]

Monet was highly paid in his lifetime.

[@GpkChrome888]

Billionaires have this type of money. It will at least double it value over 20 years

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@GpkChrome888 Send them my way, I have art for sale.

[@jamesbrown3239]

People will think I’m being sarcastic but only $65.5 million? This is an iconic art piece. It had a great provenance and this is the first time it’s been on market. I’m hoping someone with a real art collection scooped this up. This could really increase in value depending on a few variables.

[@MikeRockmaker]

Monet water lillys was tops in the art world! The story of monet is amazing. Totally different then Picasso, and Jason pollock as well as many other great artists of the past! Monet was different! Applauds to a great art piece!

[@3vimages471]

How different from Picasso?

[@lundi44]

I think you mean Jackson Pollock.

[@siajamnadas]

@@3vimages471picassos work is more cubism , whereas monets is from the impressionist era

[@edwardian_house]

@@siajamnadas original poster talked about the “story” of the artists, not the style!

[@denisdesouza1084]

Thoroughly enjoyed Sotheby's live auction of ole C. Monet's watery lillies with a green/blue colour bias.

[@MyWadester]

Monet would be amazed!!!

[@Tennisisreallyfun]

Or disgusted

[@MyWadester]

@ possibly!

[@iCover480]

Chinese collectors are buying up all the great works of art for private use. These works should be in museums for ALL to enjoy. It’s gone forever.

[@michaelreece2966]

Why does the header say $65.5 when it just sold for $59?

[@TaiyouArt]

It’s a pre laundered price

[@jimness5902]

Probably the comish Sotheby's gotta get their end

[@nellies-treasure-trove]

Commission added.

[@MarkT1700]

The difference is the Sotheby's commission

[@francesw.6774]

It's called a buyer's premium. It's a percent tacked on to the sale based on the winning bid, that goes to the auction house. The buyer has to pay it. The auction house also often collects a seller's premium from the seller based on the winning bid, though this is often waived for high value consignments like this one.

[@lpointmpoint3736]

Very nice painting. You can't even see the numbers underneath.

[@library6327]

“If art insists on being a luxury, it will also be a lie.” Create Dangerously, Camus

[@riggs871]

who knew a slower tempo would be just as soothing to listen to

[@SarahLB234]

This is the most beautiful painting from Monet, a wonderful example from the Impressionist movement. I would have bought it for $ 1 billon if i were that wealthy.

[@TaiyouArt]

That’s cheap. I’d pay 20 billion if I were that wealthy

[@calk515]

With the current inflation…

[@salilnair8000]

It has way more value. I would easily part with 50 billion if I had it.

[@Spiritchaser93]

And this is why you would never have $1 billion. You have an eye for art, but not for money. Showing your hand rightaway? You would be scammed and squander all your inherited wealth on a single piece. To play the game, you would need lots of patience and business acumen... not based on "feeling" about whether this art is worth so-and-so.

[@mpat100]

Blessings for the new owner of this artwork

[@moneymakerbanditsports8423]

I Bought it.

[@c.t5136]

It is so remarkably beautiful; the colours are astounding. I wish the new owner good luck in being its new caretaker and I hope that they do more than just lock it up - but appreciate it.

[@ogshoeplugogshoeplug5039]

Sold for $59,000,000 Auction house made: $6,600,000 just on commission.

[@francesw.6774]

Yet, Sotheby's is in financial trouble, mired in debt and with declining sales.

[@NewYorkerinLondon7]

@@francesw.6774 Source of this information, please.

[@francesw.6774]

@@NewYorkerinLondon7 Just google "Sotheby's financial trouble" and a long list of articles from legit news sources will come up. This is common knowledge. They did recently get a 1 billion dollar investment from Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund to shore them up and deal with some of the debt problem.

[@francesw.6774]

@@NewYorkerinLondon7 It's common knowledge. Just search "Sotheby's financial problems" and you will get a long list of articles on the subject from legit news sources.

[@SpOculus33]

So many people suffering in this world. Poor, sick, living in war torn lands, oppression…. Yet here are the super rich who have enough money to buy something that literally does nothing for anyone and literally has no purpose whatsoever other than a false sense of importance that humans have given it… At the day of judgement before God; they will realize that love for one another is what was important!

[@alejandroprassel]

Good evening.My congratulations to the new owner.Splendid acquisition.Good luck to everyone on KZbin.

[@riggs871]

auctioneers poses are immaculate 🕺🏻

[@cynthiagonzalez658]

Stunning how some have so much and most have 🚫 nothing 😢

[@FlyBoyMT]

The starting bid is at $40 Million? I think you can buy Oakland, CA for that amount of money.

[@ge2623]

I wouldn't buy Oakland for $4.00

[@deltasquared7777]

In 2017, "Salvator Mundi" a heavily overpainted picture attributed to Leonardo da Vinci sold for $450.3 million at Christie's in New York. This Monet is an incomparably more beautiful painting in every respect.

[@RichieRich20000]

I believe it was bought by a Saudi prince. I was fortunate to see it at the Louvre Abu Dhabi when it was on loan soon after the sale.

[@commonsense6611]

More beautiful? That is the eye of the beholder. More historically significant, likely not.

[@rollinwifdabigboys13]

This is what im saying salvador mundi wasnt even verified as authentic. Dont get how this only went for 59

[@deltasquared7777]

@@rollinwifdabigboys13 It is a certainty that a substantial portion of the Salvator Mundi is an authentically documented contemporary painting by Ms Modestini (its "restorer") who pointed out that she left "some of" the previous overpainting intact (notably of the face). The overly hyped Sotheby auction price realized does not constitute any form of guarantee or assurance that any of the remaining portion was painted by Leonardo da Vinci and it certainly is not my intention to demean it as a decorative painting. The authenticity and superb condition of the Monet is not questioned by anyone.

[@Firebrand55]

I couldn't make the auction...got caught up in a traffic jam. So I bought a Cornish pasty instead.

[@ThrifterPickerShipper]

Wowzer! Beautiful painting. And here all I want is some teeth that I lost by a demented Dentist few years back LOL. I do love the blessings that some have, however.

[@SJtoobsox]

Lol

[@SJtoobsox]

What happened?

[@ThrifterPickerShipper]

@@SJtoobsox The short story as there is much more, Sliced the inside of my cheek and it bled like crazy, Pulled what I thought was going to be 3 failed root canal molars but pulled them ALL and when I woke he was still trying to pull last molar and he was standing using all his might and in doing so he broke my jaw completely. Then he hit my lingual nerve which had me nearly flying out of my chair as the shocking pain was unreal thus paralyzing the whole right side of my face and now I have a crooked smile. Then he gave me an alveoplasty cutting my gums down and the numbing wore off and he said he wouldn't numb me as he was almost done So I sat clenching the chair with tears streaming down my face feeling like I was going to die. Then he literally perforated both of my sinuses and he had to pack all of this clove gauze up in my nostrils to where I could hardly breathe for a week. Then he sliced underneath of my tongue messing up my saliva ducks and now spit randomly flies out and that took stitches to fix things. He then charged me $30,000 for dentures that never even fit me saying they were temporary but never gave me permanent ones I have basically no life.

[@ThrifterPickerShipper]

@@SJtoobsox Oh and furthermore the statute of limitations for malpractice is very short and at the time my sister was dying of cancer so I left my own family and put my life on hold to live with her for a year as she died. As God is my witness when I got back home my OTHER sisters home burned down and again I put myself on hold to help and pay for that situation for a year. I paid both of their bills for over two years and it broke me and I had nothing left to get teeth. Aghhhhh

[@sallyseaward5865]

I’m off to buy a blank canvas, oil paints and a couple of art brushes 🎨

[@katharina6865]

[@bambinaforever1402]

Monkey can paint. U need a talent to sell it

[@stevecase6168]

I remember in the 90s when $1 million was considered life-changing money. Now, paintings go for tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, a digital currency or "cryptocurrency" called Bitcoin is $100,000 a coin, a Japanese baseball player signs of $700 MLB contract deal, and people called "streamers" make a living by having others pay to watch them play video games. What a world we live in...

[@Jake82822]

That’s the game of today’s world. No one values real work like teaching or nursing. Doctors who have to go through 12 years of education and training are only paid 350k an average a year in the US, while bankers are making multiples of that despite having a fraction of the education

[@interesting2491]

My friend, this is only the beginning…. 🌎

[@willshire_23]

True, but I would argue the last part...being that this is more purely a US-centric view of the world.

[@mariarohmer2374]

I'm surprised at the hedging or is that normal. Kudos to the charming and skilled auctioneer who kept it going.

[@edwardian_house]

Phone bidders want to be “important” and the auctioneer having half a mind on his commission!

[@r8chlletters]

And the world burns.

[@mkl9600]

And the top 1-percent laughs as the common people put them in charge of everything.

[@EmmelinePinkhurst]

Art survives.

[@mmayer1558]

This is how the world ends. Not with a bang but with a bidder

[@judahfriedman8516]

Where's my fast-talking auctioneer!

[@dsatt57]

Imagine how many people that could feed for a year, five years. The Waterlilies are my favorite but brother! My favorite is The Cloud.

[@ge2623]

People can't eat a few water lilies for 5 years.

[@francinejones2524]

I think those ultra rich people who own this type of art just don’t appreciate it like us average folk would. To them it’s just another one-of-a-kind collectors piece.

[@juliemullen365]

Where do people get all this money! That’s what I find so amazing 😊

[@toto_NYC]

credit card lol

[@catherinesecula5287]

White powder? ..big pharmaceutical ? The one who conned the world to get the compulsory VAC during COV 😅😅

[@Jake82822]

Crypto. I myself made over 2 million from crypto

[@toto_NYC]

@@Jake82822 you want to share some

[@PRScustom]

You can tell the Chinese girl is probably representing Chinese client and the guy has a middle eastern boss on the phone. Who's got the money (Monet)

[@tunaroll3957]

I heard 59m$, so the rest is plus tax part? (also curious Sotheby's cut on this type of famous art works) - Congrats to the buyer regardless, beautiful art.

[@cvbzizou]

The total includes hammer price, buyer’s premium of 10% as hammer price exceeded $6M, overhead premium, and local taxes.

[@francesw.6774]

@@cvbzizou Also auction houses charge the seller a seller's premium, though it is often waived for the auction house to secure a consignment of this stature and value. For lesser works, the buyer's premium can go up to as much as 25 - 28%.

[@Aerospace_Education]

What did I miss. Auctioneer said 59 million yet title says 65.5?

[@FlipDahlenburg]

How many thousands of student artists have copied this work or painted in a similar way and even surpassed it? Yet they aren't getting even a single million for their work. This is an investment it's all about money. How much does the owner spend on insuring it, and worrying about it?

[@dolphinbear661]

Me! I did😅

[@francesw.6774]

If you are rich enough to buy this painting, you don't worry about money, or a painting. It will probably be held in a highly secure vault.

[@waynekasmar4401]

"Surpassed it"? You don't know what you are talking about. You should delete this to stop embarrassing yourself

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

Stunningly beautiful

[@daverave6676]

And while that auction took place, in parts of the world children died for lack of clean drinking water. What a wonderful species we are.

[@daleviker5884]

And if the auction had not taken place, and person A instead of person B continued to own the painting, how would that have provided clean drinking water in another part of the world? The clean water problem should be addressed by governments of the country responsible, but too often they are corrupt and do nothing for their people. But I guess it's easier to blame something that has nothing whatsoever to do with the problem.

[@TBH_Inc]

Why does the title say $65.5 million if the video showed the final at $59 million?

[@davidbiran4572]

Sotheby's commission?

[@Jorr235]

Silly that they are nickel and diming the bidding at $51 million.

[@makeros1963]

It is 59 million not 65.5 as the title mentioned

[@JenniferNefdt-tm5cv]

To be so lucky to own something as beautiful as this painting. His work is breathtaking. Will probably go into a private house and not be seen again for years. Such a pity

[@francesw.6774]

Or more likely, a highly secure storage vault, where it can't be stolen, where literally no one will see it until someone decides to sell it again.

[@grandgala399]

it's sold to the $59M bid, not $65.5M as the title says.. what's the extra $6.5M in addition to the bidding price?

[@bambinaforever1402]

U saw that dude with the wooden hammer? His fee. He aint standing there for free

[@LW13r]

Wonder what Monet would think of this. Would he be happy or disgusted?

[@daleviker5884]

That would depend on whether he was selling or trying to buy it back. 😊😊To answer your question, living artists try to sell their works for as much as they can get, and so they should.

[@combatduckie]

happy, i guess, some of the proceeds i learnt will go to different Cleveland charities....

[@ataahuagirl1]

it is beautiful and...worth every penny that i cannot afford and...to the victor goes the spoils...lucky to have copies for us humble but ever appreciative public

[@dougl945]

Better than any Warhol or Klimt

[@kevinchambers1101]

Warhol, yes, but Klimt, I can't agree

[@alicepopovski3643]

Love Klimt

[@kevinchambers1101]

@@alicepopovski3643 I agree.

[@interesting2491]

08:21 “Boss, I’m coming out from under the table as we speak.”