Claude Monet's Meule (1891), a work from his Grainstack series, will star at Christie's Impressionist and Modern Art evening auction in New York.
The piece is one of 25 canvases Monet painted in the winter of 1890-1891, based on the hay bales piled up in farmers' fields near his home in Giverny.
 Monet painted a series of Grainstack paintings in the winter of 1890-1891 |
It's one of five Grainstack paintings American art dealer M Knoedler & Co. bought directly from the artist in September 1891.
The other four are now in permanent collections.
The work will be exhibited in Hong Kong and London throughout October before being consigned in the auction.
Jussi Pylkkanen, Christie's global president, comments: "We have been extremely aware of the growing passion for classic Impressionist paintings among our leading Asian collectors and this work is simply a masterpiece by Monet, the genius of plein air painting."
While there is no estimate available for the lot, it looks likely to sell for in excess of $40m. It last sold for $11.9m in 1999, highlighting the enormous growth in the value of Monet's work.
The sale will take place on November 16 and will include works from other big names such as Picasso and Kandinsky.
We have a remarkable handwritten letter by Claude Monet for sale.
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