A Claude Monet painting has fetched a record £40.9m ($80.5 million) for the artist’s work at an auction in London.

“Le Bassin aux Nympheas” had been expected to fetch 18-24 million pounds, but after an intense bidding battle it smashed the previous Monet auction record (Le Pont du chemin de fer a Argenteuil ) of $41.5 million set in May.
Painted in 1919 in Giverny in France it has been seen in public just once in the past 80 years. The identity of the bidder has not been made public.

It was part of the evening sale of impressionist and modern art at Christie’s which raised 144 million pounds ($283 million), the highest total for an auction in Europe. All figures include buyers’ premiums.

Art expert Charles Dupplin said despite “current financial jitters around the world” art lovers are still willing to pay money for “exquisite, unique items”. He added: “Art lovers everywhere should be cheered to see that, despite gloomy predictions, the art market looks to have a healthy future.”