Monet and London. Views of the Thames ★★★★★ The Courtauld Gallery | Sep 27, 2024 - Jan 19, 2025


The exhibition that Monet planned but which never took place! In 1904 Monet held an exhibition in Paris where he presented 37 works which he called Views of the Thames. The show was a great success and Monet's plan was to take it to London in 1905, but unfortunately this dream was never realised. It is only now that The Courtauld has brought together 21 of the artist's extraordinary works to fulfill that ambition. Many were conceived in Monet's room at the nearby Savoy Hotel, and this assemblage offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view pieces brought together from as far away as France, Canada, the USA, Denmark and Switzerland. For the first in 120 years, the public is given an opportunity to appreciate these masterpieces in a manner which will honour Monet's belief that they "take on their full value only in the comparison and succession of the entire series." The works are hung in groups according to subject matter: Waterloo Bridge, Charing Cross Bridge and The Houses of Parliament, and they span the period from 1900 to 1904. While we might deplore London's industrial smog, Monet exploits its effect on the light and the perception of the architectural structures in a manner which is quite breathtaking and becomes even more so when we see the respective paintings in this fresh context. We can compare and contrast the amazing visual effects which Monet called "wonderful things, but none lasting more than five minutes" and appreciate the artist's sublime rendering of them. Almost as evanescent as the moments captured in these paintings, this exhibition is an opportunity that will not soon come again, and definitely should not be missed.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Image: Claude Monet (1840-1926), Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect, 1903, oil on canvas, Milwaukee Art Museum. Image Courtesy of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Photo: John R. Glembin

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN, UK

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