The recent exhibition at the Courtauld devoted to these was miraculous - and the catalogue is easy to get. Makes one proud again of Turner. Thanks for such a perceptive piece - as usual!
I was really sad to miss that exhibition! Can only imagine how cool it would have been to see so many of the works together - especially as the Courtauld always seem to curate shows so well.
I'm going to be a little provocative George and ask whether how much you think the later Monet views of London were impacted by the onset of his cataracts. I know he wasn't diagnosed until 1912 but there is a school of thought that their effect can be seen much earlier in his works. I was diagnosed with cataracts earlier this year but I suspect it will just subdue my life's colour palette rather than give me the talent of a Monet... 😉
That’s honestly a great point Harry. I always think of Monet’s cataracts as affecting his work around that time of his diagnosis. But you could definitely be right if they were already beginning to impact his work.
p.s I do hope your own diagnosis won’t subdue too much of life’s colour for you. But both Monet and Degas (among many others) are of course great examples of how perfect eyesight is actually not always necessary for being a great artist!
Well, that’s good that they can do something about it. I remember reading that Monet put his op off for years due to fear of what he’d have to go through.
I realize this is about Monet, but I am absolutely struck by John Constable’s Cloud Studies. Something for me to take a deeper dive in discovering more about his works.
John Constable and JMW Turner - love those guys, and what a neat connection to Monet, or rather, their influence on Monet. I didn't know! The dance of light and dark and almost dark, shade and fog - brilliant. Another great post.
The light in these paintings shimmers and glows so wonderfully. You can imagine Monet painting effortfully over and over again to capture its effects as it changed. It was a privilege to see so many of these works together at the Courtauld Gallery last year and to shuttle backwards and forwards between them to my heart's content! It was explained at the exhibition that Monet had always wanted them to be viewed together as a series but had not been able to make it happen in his lifetime because he had sold so many of them and they were spread too far and wide (to that end he even tried to buy them back but was only partially successful).
The recent exhibition at the Courtauld devoted to these was miraculous - and the catalogue is easy to get. Makes one proud again of Turner. Thanks for such a perceptive piece - as usual!
I was really sad to miss that exhibition! Can only imagine how cool it would have been to see so many of the works together - especially as the Courtauld always seem to curate shows so well.
Thank you! BTW: Have you ever seen a Constable with a clear sky?
That’s a great question. I’m pretty sure I have at some point - though it might have only been a clear grey sky due to faded colour over time.
He definitely loved his cloud though!
These are some of my favorite Monets!
Monet's Parliament is one of my favorites, it always makes me think about some landscape from Tolkien's world.
Oh, i love that it makes you think of Tolkien’s world!. I can definitely see what you mean.
Classic- thanks for sharing 🎨
These are so incredible
I love The Thames below Westminster
I'm going to be a little provocative George and ask whether how much you think the later Monet views of London were impacted by the onset of his cataracts. I know he wasn't diagnosed until 1912 but there is a school of thought that their effect can be seen much earlier in his works. I was diagnosed with cataracts earlier this year but I suspect it will just subdue my life's colour palette rather than give me the talent of a Monet... 😉
That’s honestly a great point Harry. I always think of Monet’s cataracts as affecting his work around that time of his diagnosis. But you could definitely be right if they were already beginning to impact his work.
p.s I do hope your own diagnosis won’t subdue too much of life’s colour for you. But both Monet and Degas (among many others) are of course great examples of how perfect eyesight is actually not always necessary for being a great artist!
Thanks - current prognosis is that the need for an Op is about eighteen months away. Simple procedure these days, not like that Monet endured.
Well, that’s good that they can do something about it. I remember reading that Monet put his op off for years due to fear of what he’d have to go through.
Yes, over ten years and even then I don't think it was a total success.
We could use Monet sublime painting of Foggy San Francisco. I don’t think we have such a kind of masterful impressionistic of SF, do we?
I realize this is about Monet, but I am absolutely struck by John Constable’s Cloud Studies. Something for me to take a deeper dive in discovering more about his works.
From Paris and 😝it’s 😝surrounding communes
I love your daily posts but please- it's ITS when a possessive
John Constable and JMW Turner - love those guys, and what a neat connection to Monet, or rather, their influence on Monet. I didn't know! The dance of light and dark and almost dark, shade and fog - brilliant. Another great post.
The light in these paintings shimmers and glows so wonderfully. You can imagine Monet painting effortfully over and over again to capture its effects as it changed. It was a privilege to see so many of these works together at the Courtauld Gallery last year and to shuttle backwards and forwards between them to my heart's content! It was explained at the exhibition that Monet had always wanted them to be viewed together as a series but had not been able to make it happen in his lifetime because he had sold so many of them and they were spread too far and wide (to that end he even tried to buy them back but was only partially successful).