A magnificent snow scene by French impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926) auctioned at Sotheby's London on February 5, bringing strong results. Le Givre a Giverny (1885) made £8.8m ($13.7m) - a 46.2% increase on its £6m top estimate.

Monet's painting is thought to depict the artist's son and stepson

The evening session of Sotheby's two-date impressionist and modern art sale saw a packed saleroom, with a final total of £121m ($191m) - the second highest figure for a Sotheby's evening sale in this category in London.

Le Givre a Giverny came in third top lot, with a canvas from Monet's seemingly unimpeachable water lilies series, Nympheas Avec Reflects de Hautes Herbes, taking second place at £9m ($14m). Picasso's "Golden Muse" came in top lot, achieving £28.6m ($44.7m).

Nympheas Avec Reflets de Hautes Herbes by Claude Monet sold for £9m

This afternoon, we expect collectors and investors to flock to Sotheby's day sale of impressionist and modern art, where works by Marc Chagall and Camille Pissarro are to go under the hammer.    

Bonhams' impressionist and modern art sale, which also took place yesterday evening, was led by the Maurice Denis (1870-1943) canvas Le martyre de Saint-Sebastien - something of a surprise top lot.

The art sector is awash with stories of savvy buyers who spotted the potential of an artist before prices soared. For more information on the investment potential of the fine art market, see Paul Fraser Collectibles' free guide to investing in art and photography.  

Here at Paul Fraser Collectibles we are able to offer this Pierre-Auguste Renoir handwritten letter for sale, which offers insight into the imagination of one of the leading artists of the period represented by the Sotheby's evening sale.

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