A Claude Monet painting of flowers in his water garden sold for 50 million euros, about $56 million, at Sotheby's in Paris on Thursday, according to The New York Times and Artnet.

The painting, called "Iris," was bought by a collector in Asia bidding by phone, the outlets reported. At least six bidders took part, the Times and Artnet said. The bidding lasted 42 minutes, the Times reported, while Artnet put it at 45 minutes.

"I've never seen bidding that long," London art dealer Helly Nahmad said, according to the Times. "It was insane."

The sale price was more than twice the low estimate, Artnet reported. Artnet said it is the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in France. The old record was a Modigliani that sold for 43.2 million euros in 2010, Artnet said.

"Tonight, Paris belonged to Monet," Thomas Bompard of Sotheby's France said in a statement, according to Artnet.

"Iris" shows flowers swaying above skies reflected in Monet's lily pond, the Times reported. Experts think he painted it outdoors in 1924 or 1925, near the end of his life, the outlets said. It is nearly 6 feet wide, the Times and Artnet reported. Artnet said it had never been shown in public.

The painting came from the collection of Jeanne Schlumberger, built with Paris art dealer Katia Granoff, Artnet reported. The full sale brought in 74.4 million euros, the most for a fine art collection at Sotheby's Paris, Artnet said.

The record for any Monet is $110.7 million, set in 2019 for "Meules," or "Grainstacks," the Times reported.

The Times said more European collectors have been selling art in Paris since Brexit made London less appealing.

What we know: Monet's "Iris" sold for 50 million euros to a buyer in Asia.
What we don't: Who the buyer is, and where the painting will be shown.