LONDON — French impressionist Claude Monet, a passionate naturalist and founder of the unique painting style, began a series of 18 views of a wooden footbridge on his Giverny property in 1899.
He often painted similar scenes to reflect different times of day, seasons of the year and perspective.
Street artist Banksy, known mainly for politically charged graffiti, created a version of Monet’s 1899 “Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies,” adding partially submerged shopping carts and a parking cone in 2005.
The ode, titled “Show Me the Monet,” sold for $9.8 million this week at a Sotheby’s auction in London, surpassing expectation. It was anticipated that it would sell for about $6.5 million. It is the second-highest price paid for a Banksy work.
Banksy, whose identity has never been officially revealed, has become one of the world’s best-known and priciest artists.
Earlier this month, “Forgive Us Our Trespassing” sold for $8.3 million at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong. And last year, his work “Devolved Parliament” sold for $13 million at Sotheby’s in London.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
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