Claude Monet’s painting “Irises” became the most expensive work of art sold at auction in France

Claude Monet’s painting “Irises” sold last week for 50 million euros ($56.05 million), becoming the most expensive work of art sold at auction in France.

The painting, completed near the end of Claude Monet's life, was the most popular on the tores: six people fought for it for 45 minutes, and the last two continued to fight for another 20 minutes.

“As a result, the Irises went to a collector of Asian origin, who made a bet on the phone,” the article says.

The painting was one of several auctioned works from the Schlumberger collection and was expected to sell for between 22 million and 30 million euros.

The previous French record at auction was set in 2010 - Amedeo Modigliani's Caryatid Head was sold for 43.2 million euros.