Claude Monet Artwork Value | Prices, Originals vs Prints, How to Sell

Q: How can I tell if my Monet signature is real?

Monet consistently signed mature works 'Claude Monet,' though early caricatures from the 1850s bear the signature 'O. Monet' using his first name Oscar. Compare your signature to documented examples from the same period using the Wildenstein catalogue raisonné — our artwork valuation guide explains what experts assess beyond the signature. Signatures are frequently forged, and Monet sometimes left works unsigned, so a signature alone proves nothing.

At-a-glance: Claude Monet

One of the founders and most celebrated practitioners of Impressionism, Monet devoted his career almost entirely to painting and pastel — making authenticated originals exceptionally rare and valuable in today's market.

Bio

Name: Oscar-Claude Monet
Years Active: 1860s–1926
Nationality: French

Style

Impressionism focused on light, atmosphere, and shifting color. Plein air landscapes, garden scenes, and serial studies of the same subject under different conditions.

What to look for

Wildenstein catalogue raisonné inclusion, consistent "Claude Monet" signature on mature works, period-correct pigments and canvas, unbroken provenance with exhibition or publication history.

What Claude Monet works do people actually own?

Most "Monet" items in private hands aren't Water Lilies masterpieces — they're museum reproductions and decorative posters. Unlike artists such as Renoir or Matisse, who produced original prints alongside paintings, Monet worked almost exclusively in oil and pastel. Understanding whether you have an original or reproduction is the first step in determining value.

Museum reproductions & posters — $5–$200
The most common "Monet" items by far. Museum gift shop posters, vintage exhibition announcements, and mass-produced prints of Water Lilies, Haystacks, and garden scenes. These are photomechanical reproductions with no connection to the artist beyond the image. Collectible as decorative items only.
Decorative giclées & canvas prints — $20–$500
Modern high-resolution reproductions printed on canvas, sometimes textured to resemble brushstrokes and framed to look like original paintings. These are manufactured reproductions — not original works — regardless of how convincing they appear. Their value is purely decorative.
Thornley lithographs (after Monet) — $5,000–$30,000
A series of 20 color lithographs created by printmaker G.W. Thornley translating Monet's paintings to the lithographic stone, circa 1892–1894. Monet authorized and signed these impressions in pencil, with editions of approximately 25. While reproductive rather than original compositions, they are the closest thing to an "original Monet print" and are collected as such.
Pastels & works on paper — $100,000–$5,000,000+
Monet produced pastels alongside his oil paintings, particularly during the 1860s–1880s. Authenticated examples documented in the Wildenstein catalogue are extremely rare at auction. Prices depend heavily on subject, period, and condition, with major pastels rivaling smaller oil paintings in value.
Oil paintings — $5,000,000–$110,000,000+
The core of Monet's output and the work type collectors encounter at the top of the market. Iconic series — Water Lilies, Haystacks, Rouen Cathedral — command the highest prices, with the auction record set by Meules at $110.7 million (Sotheby's, 2019). Smaller or less iconic subjects start around $5,000,000.

The gap between reproductions and authenticated Monet originals is enormous — there is no affordable "original" tier as there is for printmaking artists. Upload your piece for a specific assessment based on current market data.

How to verify Claude Monet authenticity

Authentication is critical for Monet — the combination of extreme value and high forgery risk means every claimed Monet faces intense scrutiny. Before getting a valuation, gather these details:

Catalogue raisonné: Daniel Wildenstein's five-volume catalogue raisonné documents approximately 2,500 Monet paintings — inclusion is the single most important factor for market acceptance
Signature characteristics: Monet consistently signed "Claude Monet" on mature works; early caricatures bear "O. Monet." Signature style, color, and placement evolved over six decades of production
Scientific analysis: Pigment testing, canvas weave analysis, and X-ray imaging are standard — period-correct materials are necessary but not sufficient for authentication
Provenance documentation: Unbroken ownership history back to the artist, early exhibitions, or established collections is essential; gaps in provenance raise serious concerns
No single authentication body: Unlike some artists, no estate or foundation issues official Monet certificates. The Wildenstein Plattner Institute maintains the catalogue raisonné but does not authenticate works — authentication relies on scholarly consensus and scientific evidence

Upload photos of the front, back, signature, and any documentation for a preliminary assessment.

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Claude Monet artwork FAQs

Start by checking whether your work appears in the Wildenstein catalogue raisonné — the definitive five-volume record of Monet's approximately 2,500 paintings maintained by the Wildenstein Plattner Institute. Beyond catalogue inclusion, expect scientific analysis including pigment testing, X-ray imaging, and canvas dating. For guidance on distinguishing originals from reproductions, see our original vs print artwork guide.

Monet worked almost exclusively in painting and pastel — he did not produce original prints, etchings, or lithographs. Any "Monet print" is a photomechanical reproduction of a painting, typically worth under $200 regardless of age or framing. An authenticated Monet painting starts at several million dollars. Understanding this distinction is essential before getting a valuation.

The overwhelming majority of Impressionist-style paintings people believe to be Monets are by other artists or are outright reproductions. Authentic Monet paintings are catalogued in the Wildenstein catalogue raisonné and rarely surface outside major collections. If you believe you have a genuine work, start with a free appraisal — we can help assess whether further investigation is warranted.

The Water Lilies, Haystacks (Meules), and Rouen Cathedral series consistently command the highest prices, with major examples selling for $20,000,000–$110,000,000+. Among late 19th-century painters, Monet ranks alongside Van Gogh and Cézanne at the very top of the auction market. Smaller oil paintings from less iconic subjects typically sell for $5,000,000–$20,000,000 depending on period, size, and condition.

For reproductions and decorative pieces, online marketplaces and local dealers are appropriate — but expect modest returns. Thornley lithographs or documented works on paper suit specialist auction houses and established dealers. For potential original paintings, contact Sotheby's, Christie's, or Phillips directly. For pieces valued over $1,000, we can help connect you with the right channel — see our selling guide for details.

Monet consistently signed mature works "Claude Monet," though early caricatures from the 1850s bear the signature "O. Monet" using his first name Oscar. Compare your signature to documented examples from the same period using the Wildenstein catalogue raisonné — our artwork valuation guide explains what experts assess beyond the signature. Signatures are frequently forged, and Monet sometimes left works unsigned, so a signature alone proves nothing.

How to sell Claude Monet artwork

Ready to sell your artwork? Here's the process for Monet pieces at any value level.

1

Get a valuation

Upload photos and we'll assess your piece against the Wildenstein catalogue raisonné, evaluate condition and authenticity indicators, and provide a realistic market assessment within 24–48 hours.

2

Verify authenticity if needed

For any potentially authentic Monet painting, budget time for scholarly review and scientific analysis. No single body certifies Monets — authentication relies on catalogue raisonné inclusion, provenance research, and technical examination by Impressionist specialists.

3

Choose the right channel

Under $1K (reproductions): Online marketplaces, local consignment, or decorative dealers.
$5K–$30K (Thornley lithographs): Specialist print dealers, regional auction houses with print sales.
$100K+ (works on paper & paintings): Sotheby's, Christie's, or Phillips; private sale through major Impressionist dealers.

4

Prepare documentation

Gather provenance records, purchase receipts, exhibition history, and any scholarly references to your work. Collectors of Monet often also collect Renoir and other Impressionists, so positioning your piece within this context strengthens buyer interest. Complete documentation accelerates sales and strengthens buyer confidence.

Ready to get a free Claude Monet valuation?

Upload photos of your artwork — front, back, signature, and any documentation — and receive a research-backed estimate with guidance on authenticity, pricing, and selling options.