Claude Monet at Sotheby’s in London

No fewer than five paintings by French artist Claude Monet – with a combined top estimate of €60 million – will go under the hammer in Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art auction in London on Tuesday evening, February 3rd.

The highlight is "an exceptionally rare and important view of Venice" dating from 1908 and titled Le Grand Canal estimated at £20 million-£30 million.

It has been on display for the last eight years at The National Gallery, London.

The other four are: Les Peupliers à Giverny (£9million-£12 million), an image of poplar trees at the artists home, being sold by The Museum of Modern Art, New York to benefit its Acquisitions Fund; L'Embarcadère (£7.7 million-£10 million) painted by Monet in Zaandam, Holland; Antibes vue de la Salis (£5 million-£7 million) a "dazzling view of the south coast of France"; and Vase de pivoines (£1.2 million-£1.8 million), a still-life of a vase of peonies.

Helena Newman of Sotheby's expressed confidence ahead of the auction, claiming "the market for works by Claude Monet has now reached an all-time point of strength".