Manet painting sells for $65 million at NY auction

A stunning 1881 masterpiece by Edouard Manet sold for $65 million at Christie’s auction house in New York on Wednesday. This is a record for a work by the French impressionist artist. “Le Printemps”, which had been valued at $25 million to $30 million, depicts a famous actress of the day and was exhibited in 1882 to critical acclaim while Manet was one of the most famous living artists. It was snapped up by a buyer in the front row who calmly fended off furious bidding on the telephone to clinch the picture for $65.13 million. The canvas has been owned by the same family for more than a century and for the last 20 years been on loan to the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Arts Manet