Chrysanthemums (Fleurs: Chrysanthèmes)
Painting on canvas • Claude Monet (signed and dated 'Claude Monet 82' in the lower left)
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; technique involves broken brushwork, wet-on-wet application (alla prima), and impasto to capture light flicker.
Creation Period
1882
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 100 x 81 cm (39 3/8 x 31 7/8 in); vertical rectangular format.
Subject Description
A lush bouquet of pink and white chrysanthemums in a dark blue ceramic vase, set upon a reflective polished tabletop. The composition utilizes a high horizon line and vibrant light play to dissolve the distinction between the stems and the background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; typical museum-quality state with stable paint film and vibrant color preservation.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000,000 - $25,000,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$12,000,000 - $20,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Originally in the collection of Paul Durand-Ruel; various private collections; currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY).
Art Historical Significance
Monet painted several still lifes in 1882 to provide marketable works for his dealer, Durand-Ruel. This period shows his transition from strict landscape focus to exploring the rhythmic, decorative potential of floral arrangements.
Notable Features
Prominent red signature and '82' date in the lower left; housed in a lavish gilded Louis XV-style rococo frame featuring elaborate acanthus leaf carvings and C-scrolls.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure in the thicker impasto areas; slight yellowing of old varnish.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain controlled climate (50% RH); museum-grade UV-filtering glass; periodic professional varnish inspection.