MONET'S "IRIS" BECOMES MOST EXPENSIVE ARTWORK SOLD AT AUCTION IN FRANCE

PARIS, OCTOBER 23 /SRNA-Reuters/ - "Iris", a painting by renowned French Impressionist Claude Monet, has sold for 50 million euros, making it the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in France, auction house Sotheby's said.

The oil painting on canvas, created towards the end of Monet's life, sparked a bidding war among six buyers that lasted 45 minutes, after which the final two bidders continued to compete for the artwork for another 20 minutes.

"Iris" was eventually acquired by an Asian collector who placed the winning bid by telephone.

The artwork was one of several pieces from the Schlumberger collection offered at auction, and had been expected to sell for between 22 million and 30 million euros.

The previous record for an auction sale in France was set in 2010, when Amedeo Modigliani's "Head of a Caryatid" sold for 43.2 million euros.