It strikes me that these Impressionist pictures often have little to do with the standard narratives of American identity in this era.

Decor is in summery shades of aquamarine, picked up in draperies, chair fabrics, carpeting and the Impressionist pictures along the white walls.

Although 85 percent of the lots sold at Sotheby's represent only 15 to 20 percent of the company's dollar volume, she said, "there aren't that many Impressionist pictures, so every year you have to sell a lot of other stuff.

The Marmottan Museum was recently reconstructed to house some of Claude Monet's Impressionist pictures.

"People talk about the art market in general, but each area of specialization, whether it be Impressionist pictures or jewelry or European furniture, is a market unto itself, moving at its own pace," explains Mr. Burge.

Christopher Burge, chairman of Christie's in America and last night's auctioneer, said of the sale, "There was tremendous competition, whether for an Impressionist picture or a 20th-century one."

"There was a significant increase in Japanese buying, particularly in Impressionist pictures but also in contemporary art," said Christopher Burge, president of Christie's in the United States.

"It is the quintessential Impressionist picture, especially the way the artist captured the early morning light on the water," said Mr. Giraud.

With one small stroke after another, it is painting a sort of Impressionist picture representing its own vision of public services.

"Collectors here put an Old Master or Impressionist picture in the safe, but they buy these pictures of the children and the sheep to remind themselves of a life that is gone," said Mr. Silbernagel.