WHAT?  Monet and London - Views of the Thames 

WHERE?  The Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R ORN

WHEN?  Now until 19th January 2025

WHY GO?  For the magic of Monet.  Water Lilies in Giverny and the watery Thames in London, both subjects so enraptured the great French artist Monet that he painted them continuously and how lucky are we to finally see the climax of his fascination with London fog, London bridges and London’s atmospheric Thames in this extraordinary exhibition that he always dreamt about staging.

“Every day I find London more beautiful to paint”, he wrote to his stepdaughter in 1900.

It brings together 21 glorious paintings that illustrate his love for London during three extended stays, when he painted obsessively recording the ever changing light and famous landmarks, often from his balcony at the Savoy Hotel.  

Though Monet’s balconies have long gone, the memories linger on where views from the sixth floor have replaced his industrial barges with swanky Thames River Boats.

Testament to the city’s great architects, the Houses of Parliament, which he depicted several times with and without the notorious London smog, is just as dominant a landmark as it was back then, and certainly way cleaner!  Indeed if Monet set up his easel and there was no hint of mist, he was apparently ‘devastated’ it is recorded in a letter to his wife Alice.  

Only an artist as evocative as Monet could create such beauty out of London’s adverse weather conditions and it is beyond impressive to admire these impressionist paintings displayed as a series. It confirms just how inspiring London was and always will be for ambitious artists.

IN THE KNOW The handy little exhibition brochure provides a comprehensive account of each and every painting in the Monet exhibition. There are endless fascinating anecdotes revealing how, why, and who ended up with many of his Thames works of art. 

It’s beholden to an institution as renowned as The Courtauld for Impressionist art, to delve deeply into the well researched intricacies; make sure you bag a copy!