Monet's Water Lilies on show ahead of New York auction
- Published
Nympheas (1905) has been held by its current owner since 1955
Six oil paintings by impressionist master Claude Monet have gone on display in London ahead of their auction in New York.
One of the paintings - part of the famous Nympheas (Water Lilies) series - has not been seen in public since 1945.
It is expected to sell for an estimated $30-45m (£20.5m-£13m) when it goes under the hammer on 5 May.
The six works, which have been held in private collections, are expected to raise in excess of $78m (£53.5m).
The other works are Le Palais Ducal painted in 1908 in Venice; Bassin aux nympheas, les rosiers (1913); Le Chemin d'Epinay, effet de neige (1875); La Seine a Vetheuil (1901), and Au Val Saint-Nicolas pres Dieppe, matin (1897).
The impressionist's works will be on show in London until 14 April, before returning to New York where they will be on view from 1 May.