The Courtauld Institute of Art is set to host a landmark exhibition of Claude Monet’s Thames River series, displaying 21 paintings for the first time in the UK. This historic collection will be on view from September 27, marking the first time these works have been shown together in 120 years.
Monet, a pivotal figure in the impressionist movement, created these masterpieces during three visits to London between 1899 and 1901. He completed them in his studio in Giverny, France. The gallery describes these works as “amongst the most significant representations of the Thames ever made,” showcasing extraordinary views filled with evocative atmosphere, mysterious light, and radiant color.
The series features iconic landmarks such as the Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament, all brought to life through Monet’s distinctive short impasto brushstrokes. These paintings were first exhibited in Paris in 1904. Although Monet had planned to show them in London the following year, those plans fell through. In a letter to his wife Alice in 1901, Monet expressed his admiration for England, stating, “There is no country more extraordinary for a painter.”
Monet found London particularly challenging yet fascinating to paint due to its fog, which he described as “black, brown, yellow, green, purple fogs.” He captured the city’s essence as seen through these varying fogs, making the Thames series his most ambitious project to date.
Several paintings in the series were created from the balconies of the Savoy Hotel, located just 1,000 feet from the Courtauld. The exhibition, titled “Monet and London: Views of the Thames,” will provide visitors with a rare opportunity to experience the show as Monet originally curated it, showcasing the works he felt best represented his artistic vision.
Karen Serres, Senior Curator of Paintings at The Courtauld, emphasized the significance of this exhibition, stating, “Monet’s paintings of London’s river Thames constituted by far the largest and most ambitious series Monet had produced up until this point in his career and are undoubtedly among the most significant representations of a city ever made.” She added that the exhibition aims to capture the complexity of Monet’s practice, highlighting his efforts to depict the atmospheric conditions and light effects over the Thames.
This unprecedented exhibition will allow visitors to immerse themselves in Monet’s artistic enterprise, experiencing the extraordinary views of London’s Thames as Monet envisioned them 120 years ago.
