Monet and London - Views of the Thames at The Courtauld, London

Monet - Charing Cross Bridge. Smoke in the Fog; Impression

The Courtauld Gallery in London is currently showing "Monet and London - Views of the Thames" until 19 January 2025.  These are views of the Thames painted mostly from Monet's balcony at The Savoy Hotel beginning in 1899.  They focus on the three sites of Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. He was fascinated by the mix of fog and sunlight, combined with the smoke from London's industry and how it affected the light, colours and clarity of the views.

Monet - Charing Cross Bridge. Fog on the Thames

Monet - The Houses of Parliament. Effect of Fog, London

Monet - The Houses of Parliament, Sunset

Monet completed 37 paintings of views of the Thames which were exhibited in Paris in 1904 to great critical acclaim and commercial success, confirming his reputation as France's leading artist.  He wanted to exhibit the series in London in 1905 but it never happened.  This exhibition reunites 21 of those works in London as Monet had hoped to do all those years ago.

Many of the paintings are largely in pink and purple shades and some are quite yellow.  As we no longer have the smogs of yesteryear we can't know how true to life they are but they certainly have plenty of atmosphere. To see the same views in different atmospheric conditions is really interesting...

Monet - Waterloo Bridge, Effect of Sunlight in the Fog

Monet - Waterloo Bridge, Overcast Weather

Monet - Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect

As well as the Monet exhibition the Courtauld also has a permanent collection you can visit.  Here are some of my favourites. I love the angularity of Cezanne's painting of Lake Annecy...

Cezanne - Lac d'Annecy

and everything about The Card Players...

Cezanne - The Card Players

The texture in Van Gogh's painting and Frank Auerbach's make you want to run your fingers over the painted surface (but, of course, you can't!)...

Van Gogh - Peach Trees in Blossom (detail)

Frank Auerbach - Rebuilding the Cinema Leicester Square (detail)

Duncan Grant was apparently inspired by Cezanne - perhaps that's why I like this piece...

Duncan Grant - Still life - The Dinner Table

I'm drawn to the shape and colours of this painting, painted during the Second World War, offering a different view of the world but reminding us of the time with the poppies in the vase on the table... 

Ivon Hitchens - Balcony View, Iping Church

This is Lanyon's depiction of Halsetown, a village near St Ives in Cornwall.  Lanyon flew gliders.  Infact he died after a gliding accident.  I wonder if his view from above informs this abstract work...

Peter Lanyon - Halsetown

The Courtauld has an impressive staircase (lifts are also available)...

The Courtauld - Staircase

The Courtauld Gallery is part of Somerset House.  There are a number of cafes there including the Art Cafe at the Courtauld.  There are also lockers, toilets and a shop.  If you want to see the Monet exhibition, book well in advance as it is very popular.  Covent Garden, Charing Cross, Embankment and Temple Tube Stations are all quite close.  The Monet exhibition is in two rooms but there is also the permanent collection that you might like to visit while you're there.