A rare water lily painting by Claude Monet will star among dozens of modern masterpieces this month in what is being billed as the “most valuable” art auction ever held in London, Christie's said Thursday. Painted in 1906, the work is part of the French Impressionist's iconic Nympheas series and was included in his historic exhibition in Paris three years later. Christie's said it expected the London sale of 63 modern and impressionist artworks on June 23 to raise between 163 and 231 million pounds ($240/338 million). Another star work is the Blue Period masterpiece by Picasso, “Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto” and “Parc de l'hopital Saint-Paul”, painted in 1889 by Vincent van Gogh.
