7 6
FIG 1. The Water-Lily Pond (1919) (W 1890) sold in 2008 for £40.9M ($80.3M or $114.3M when adjusted for inf lation) beco-
ming then the most expensive work by Monet ever auctioned.
Top 10 Paintings by Inflation-Adjusted Price
A founding member of Impressionism, French painter Claude Monet (1840-1926) maintained a
lifelong fascination with nature. Beginning in the latter half of the 19th century, Impressionist artists
aimed to capture reality by transposing immediate impressions onto the canvas, characterised by
loose, spontaneous brushwork.
Monet designed and cultivated an enchanting water garden at his home in Giverny, complete with
a now-iconic lily pond. Serving as Monet’s grandest pursuit, the Water Lilies emerged as his central
motif for over three decades.
Spanning four distinct series characterised by varying styles, sizes, and formats, the Water Lilies
can be categorised according to the following period breakdown: First series (1897-1903); Second
series (1904-1908); Third series (1914-1920); ‘Grandes Décorations’ (1920-1926).
Artwork Sales Date Auction Price
*
Inf lation-
Adjusted Price
(USD)
**
Grainstacks 1891
14052019110 747 000133 981 789
The WaterLily Pond 1919
24062008 £40 921 250114 324 039
Blooming WaterLilies 1917
0805201884 687 504104 292 544
Grainstack 1891
1611201681 447 504103 935 369
The WaterLily Pond 1919
1205202170 353 00080 942 484
Houses of Parliament Sunset 1901
1305202275 960 00080 545 223
The WaterLily Pond 1919
0911202374 010 00074 234 253
WaterLilies 1905
0505201554 010 00070 383 621
WaterLilies 1907
23062014 £31 722 50069 159 948
Waterloo Bridge Hazy Sun 1901
1809202264 510 00067 188 173
I N M O N E T’S AU C T I O N M A R K E T (2 0 0 4-2 0 2 3)
Top 10
Records
All sales prices include buyers premium
All prices are adjusted for inf lation using the December 2023 US CPIU index consumer price index
2
are from the second Water Lilies series (1905-1908)
4
are from the third Water Lilies series (1914-1919)
Among Monet’s Top 10 Records: