‘Monet & Architecture’ at the National Gallery

Buildings.

Top: ‘Dolceacqua, la vieux pont sur la Nervia’, 1884 (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA; Gift of Richard and Edna Salomon, 1985. © Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA; photo by Michael Agee).

The first ‘purely Monet’ show to be staged in London for more than 20 years takes as its subject the painter’s interest in architecture, rather than his better-known celebrations of rural scenes, the sea or gardens. Featuring more than 75 works, the show covers the full extent of his long career. In some paintings buildings figure simply as useful tonal, compositional or humanising elements in landscapes, but the exhibition also includes depictions of structures such as ‘The Gare St-Lazare’, in which architecture offers the artist a useful measure of modernity, and studies of architectural masterpieces such as the Doge’s Palace and Rouen Cathedral.

‘Monet & Architecture’
Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, London WC2
Until 29 July 2018

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