Image credit: Claude Monet (1840-1926), Houses of Parliament_ Effect of Fog, London, 1904, oil on canvas, Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg, Florida. Image_ Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg, Florida
We are eagerly awaiting the opening of Monet and London: Views of the Thames at the Courtauld Gallery later this month. This landmark exhibition will bring Monet’s series of Thames paintings together to be shown in the UK for the very first time, some 120+ years after they were created.
Monet and London
Monet visited London three times between 1899 and 1901 (staying at the Savoy Hotel, just a short distance from the Courtauld), during which time he was fascinated by how the industrial fog affected the light. He created a series of studies, capturing views of the Thames, the surrounding architecture and the winter’s light, which are incredibly evocative.
The Thames collection was exhibited in Paris in 1904 to critical acclaim. Monet’s dream was to then show it in London the following year but unfortunately, it never came to fruition.
Astoundingly, this will be the very first time the collection will be brought together to be shown in the UK, at last realising Monet’s dream.
Details
The exhibition will run from 27 September until 19 January.
The Courtauld will be running The Courtauld Lates: Monet and London on the evening of 27 September to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. There will be cocktails, food, a live DJ set and the opportunity to explore more of the Courtauld’s collection in addition to the Monet exhibition.
Getting there
The Courtauld Gallery is a 36-minute walk from Hertford Street. It can also be reached by taking the underground on the Piccadilly line from Green Park to Covent Garden.