UP AT 5:00. IMAGINE THAT ALL RIGHT. IMAGINE THAT. YES. WELL, A FAMOUS PAINTING AT THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART IS NOW HEADING TO AUCTION. THE PIECE OF ART HAS BEEN PART OF THE COLLECTION SINCE 1986. KMBC NINE’S ALAN SHOPE EXPLAINS. IT IS EXPECTED TO FETCH A PRETTY HIGH NUMBER. IF YOU’RE GOING TO KNOW ONE NAME OF IMPRESSIONIST, UM, IT’S PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLAUDE MONET. HIS WORK IS SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR AND EXPENSIVE ARTWORK IN HISTORY. I THINK THESE PAINTINGS ARE VISUALLY BEAUTIFUL. THEY TAKE US AWAY FROM THE HUSTLE BUSTLE IN MANY RESPECTS OF THE CITY’S LABETTE MONET PAINTING FROM 1888 IS HEADING TO AUCTION, AND ACCORDING TO THE SMITHSONIAN, COULD FETCH $25 MILLION. THE NELSON-ATKINS HAS HAD THE PAINTING ON DISPLAY SINCE 1986, EVEN THOUGH IT’S GOT THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT’S RECOGNIZABLE, IT WAS REALLY EXPERIMENTAL FOR MONET. THE PAINT IS JUST LOADED UP AND LUSCIOUS, AMY SAYS. IT’S BEEN A POPULAR ATTRACTION AT THE MUSEUM, AND IT’S TOUGH TO SEE IT GO. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE NEVER OWNED IT COMPLETELY OUTRIGHT, AND SO WE KNEW THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY WITH THE DEPARTURE OF MILLET, LABETTE, NELSON-ATKINS SAYS THEY STILL HAVE FOUR MONETS LEFT, INCLUDING A BRAND NEW EXHIBIT THAT IS MONET IN CONVERSATION. HE WAS SUCH AN INFLUENTIAL ARTIST, BUT ALSO HE WAS INFLUENCED BY MANY OTHER THINGS. AND SO THE SERIES MONET AND CONVERSATION WILL BRING THESE THINGS TOGETHER, SHE ADDS. THEY’RE HOPING TO START AN ENDOWMENT WITH THE PROCEEDS FROM THE AUCTION. WE’VE ENJOYED IT FOR SO, SO MANY YEARS, AND WHILE WE’RE SAD TO SEE IT GO, IT REALLY IS GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO OTHER AREAS OF THE COLLECTION. IN KANSAS CITY, ALAN SHOPE, KMBC NINE NEWS AND ADD. THE PAINTING WILL GO O
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Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art sells Monet painting for nearly $22 million at auction
The sale of Monet's "The Mill at Limetz" will help fund an endowment and future acquisitions for the museum
A new endowment fund has been created for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City thanks to the sale of one of its most valuable paintings. On Tuesday, the museum announced that Claude Monet's renowned 1888 painting, "The Mill at Limetz," was sold at auction at Christie’s in New York on May 16 for $21,685,000. The Nelson-Atkins has housed the painting since 1986 after being partially gifted the piece by Ethel B. Atha. The decision to sell the work was made after the death of her daughter, Ethelyn Atha Chase, who held a life interest in the painting. “The auction was a thrilling experience,” Evelyn Craft Belger, Chair of the Nelson-Atkins Board of Trustees, said. “This newly created endowment will provide funds for future acquisitions to add depth and diversity to the museum’s galleries for generations to come.”Despite the departure of classic work, the Nelson-Atkins still houses four other Monet paintings, in addition to a new exhibit celebrating the impressionist's works.While the buyer remains anonymous, museum officials say there was global interest in the painting, including potential buyers from Hong Kong, Taipei, London, and Paris, and other international cities.“We are very pleased this beautiful painting has found a new home,” Director and CEO of the Nelson-Atkins Julián Zugazagoitia said. “The newly created Joseph S. and Ethel B. Atha Art Acquisition Endowment will allow us to acquire art that will impact many future generations.”The Mill at Limetz's counterpart was sold last fall. It is one of only two paintings that feature this view of the grain mill at Limetz about a mile away from the artist's home in Giverny near the River Epte. KMBC spoke with Aimee Marceraeu DeGalan, the Nelson-Atkins European Curator of Art, to discuss the impact of Monet's work shortly before the sale. The painting's auction price was within the upper half of the Smithsonian's estimate of $18-25 million at auction.
A new endowment fund has been created for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City thanks to the sale of one of its most valuable paintings.
On Tuesday, the museum announced that Claude Monet's renowned 1888 painting, "The Mill at Limetz," was sold at auction at Christie’s in New York on May 16 for $21,685,000.
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The Nelson-Atkins has housed the painting since 1986 after being partially gifted the piece by Ethel B. Atha. The decision to sell the work was made after the death of her daughter, Ethelyn Atha Chase, who held a life interest in the painting.
“The auction was a thrilling experience,” Evelyn Craft Belger, Chair of the Nelson-Atkins Board of Trustees, said. “This newly created endowment will provide funds for future acquisitions to add depth and diversity to the museum’s galleries for generations to come.”
Despite the departure of classic work, the Nelson-Atkins still houses four other Monet paintings, in addition to a new exhibit celebrating the impressionist's works.
While the buyer remains anonymous, museum officials say there was global interest in the painting, including potential buyers from Hong Kong, Taipei, London, and Paris, and other international cities.
“We are very pleased this beautiful painting has found a new home,” Director and CEO of the Nelson-Atkins Julián Zugazagoitia said. “The newly created Joseph S. and Ethel B. Atha Art Acquisition Endowment will allow us to acquire art that will impact many future generations.”
The Mill at Limetz's counterpart was sold last fall. It is one of only two paintings that feature this view of the grain mill at Limetz about a mile away from the artist's home in Giverny near the River Epte.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
KMBC spoke with Aimee Marceraeu DeGalan, the Nelson-Atkins European Curator of Art, to discuss the impact of Monet's work shortly before the sale.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art to auction off iconic Monet painting
The painting's auction price was within the upper half of the Smithsonian's estimate of $18-25 million at auction.
