Mist and Majesty: Monet’s Enchanting Views of the Thames
Charing Cross Bridge. The Thames, 1903
Mist and Majesty: Monet’s Enchanting Views of the Thames
Claude Monet’s relationship with London was one of profound admiration and artistic obsession. The recent exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery, Monet and London: Views of the Thames, was a landmark event that not only became the most extensive exhibition in the gallery’s history but also fulfilled Monet’s long standing desire to have his London series showcased within the city that inspired them.
This exhibition provided an unprecedented opportunity to examine Monet’s artistic process, his fascination with London’s unique light, and the way he meticulously transformed transient atmospheric effects into lasting masterpieces.
Somerset House, London
Between 1899 and 1901, Monet embarked on three pivotal visits to London, during which he became captivated by the city's atmospheric interplay of light and fog over the Thames. From his suite at the Savoy Hotel, he meticulously observed and painted the subtle shifts in color and mood, focusing on motifs such as Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament. These sessions were not fleeting; Monet dedicated significant time to capturing the transient effects of light and atmosphere, often working on multiple canvases simultaneously to portray the same scene under varying conditions.
Back in his studio in Giverny, Monet went on to complete a special group of 37 of these paintings, he called them “Vues de la Tamise á Londres” (Views of the Thames in London). This series was exhibited and shown for the first time at his dealer’s gallery in Paris, Paul Durand-Ruel. For him it was important for people to experience and appreciate “their full value only in the comparison and succession of the entire series”
The exhibition reunited nineteen of the original thirty-seven paintings from this series, marking the first time these works were displayed together in the UK. This assembly not only fulfilled Monet's original intention to exhibit these masterpieces in London, a plan that was postponed in 1905 due to his dissatisfaction with the selection, but also provided contemporary audiences with an immersive experience of his artistic vision. The paintings vividly depict the Thames enveloped in mist and bathed in the vibrant hues of London's unique light, showcasing Monet's fascination with the city's dynamic atmosphere.
Monet's dedication to this series extended beyond his London sojourns. He spent years refining these canvases in his Giverny studio in France, striving to perfect the nuanced effects he observed firsthand. This meticulous process underscores his commitment to capturing the ephemeral beauty of London's river scenes, reflecting a profound appreciation that resonates with those who share a love for the city.
Claude Monet drew an earlier incarnation of London's Waterloo Bridge during his stay at The Savoy hotel in January 1901. Getty Images
For visitors who, like Monet, are enamored with London, the exhibition offered a unique opportunity to see the city through the eyes of a master Impressionist. Monet's paintings encapsulate the essence of London, the ever-changing light, the interplay of architecture and nature, and the atmospheric conditions that define the city's character. Experiencing these works in the very locale that inspired them fosters a deeper connection to both the art and the city itself.
In essence, "Monet and London: Views of the Thames" was more than an exhibition; it was a celebration of the enduring bond between an artist and a metropolis. It highlighted how Monet's artistic journey was profoundly influenced by London's landscapes, and in turn, how his depictions continue to inspire and resonate with admirers of the city today.
The Savoy Hotel and rooms occupied by Monet in 1899 (6th floor) and in 1900 and 1901 (5th floor). From a paper titled “Monet and the Savoy” written by Soraya Khan and her colleagues, published in June 2010
Monet’s Obsession with London’s Light
Monet first visited London in 1870-71, seeking refuge during the Franco-Prussian War. This early visit made a lasting impression on him, particularly the way the city’s architecture was softened by the omnipresent fog and the constant shifting of light. However, it was not until the late 1890s that he truly immersed himself in painting the city. Between 1899 and 1901, Monet embarked on three extended stays in London, renting rooms at the Savoy Hotel, where he had an unobstructed view of the Thames. From his balcony, he painted obsessively, attempting to capture the elusive interplay of light, mist, and water.
He worked on three main motifs: Waterloo Bridge, Charing Cross Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament. These series, comprising multiple canvases, show a meticulous attempt to represent the same subject under different weather conditions, times of day, and seasonal variations. Unlike his earlier paintings, which often depicted bustling outdoor scenes, Monet’s London series presents the city in a more dreamlike and meditative manner, emphasizing mood over movement. In total, Monet created around 100 paintings of London, with approximately 41 paintings depicting Waterloo Bridge, 26 paintings featuring Charing Cross Bridge, and 19 paintings capturing the Houses of Parliament.
Repetition as a Defining Element in Monet’s Process
Repetition was a fundamental aspect of Monet’s artistic practice, and his London series exemplifies this approach. By painting the same view multiple times under varying atmospheric conditions, Monet was able to explore the subtleties of light, color, and mood in a way that few artists before him had attempted. This obsessive repetition is also evident in his most famous series: the Water Lilies.
Just as Monet painted London’s bridges and Parliament repeatedly to capture different moments of the day, he devoted decades of his career to painting the water lilies in his garden at Giverny. In both series, Monet was less concerned with the architectural or botanical details of his subject and more focused on the interplay of light and reflection. His London paintings, like the Water Lilies, become almost abstract in their dissolution of solid forms into shimmering patterns of color and light.
The Water Lilies series and the London series both emphasize the passage of time through atmospheric changes rather than narrative elements. While the London paintings capture the movement of the fog, the shifting skies, and the transformation of the city’s appearance over hours and seasons, the Water Lilies depict the stillness of a pond disrupted only by the ripples of water and shifting reflections of the sky. These works show Monet’s lifelong fascination with fleeting impressions, and both series are among the most important examples of how he pushed the boundaries of Impressionism toward near abstraction.
The Changing Light: Dawn, Afternoon, and Dusk
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Monet and London exhibition was how it showcased his ability to depict light at different times of the day. Monet would often work on multiple canvases simultaneously, switching between them as the light changed. He sought to capture not just the appearance of a scene but the sensation of experiencing it.
In his Waterloo Bridge series, some paintings are enveloped in the pale, delicate hues of dawn. Here, Monet used soft blues, pinks, and lavenders to suggest the first light breaking through the mist. The forms of the bridge appear almost ghostly, dissolved in the early morning fog. As the day progresses, the color palette shifts—midday scenes are painted with more clarity, featuring cooler blues and greys, reflecting the sunlight breaking through the haze. By contrast, Monet’s twilight and sunset paintings explode with fiery oranges, deep purples, and streaks of gold, transforming the bridges and water into an almost abstract play of color and form.
The Houses of Parliament series takes this color exploration even further. At dawn, the Gothic silhouette of the Parliament buildings emerges from layers of mist, bathed in pale pinks and yellows. In the afternoon, the fog thickens, swallowing parts of the architecture and creating a sense of mystery. As the sun sets, the sky becomes a dramatic backdrop of reds, oranges, and purples, contrasting sharply against the darkened, brooding forms of the buildings. These paintings evoke a sense of timelessness, as if Monet was capturing not just a specific moment, but the very essence of London itself.
The Role of Fog and Atmosphere
Fog was one of Monet’s greatest fascinations while painting London. Unlike many artists who might view fog as an obstacle to clarity, Monet embraced it as a subject in its own right. The mist blurred outlines, softened edges, and created an ever-changing atmosphere that allowed Monet to experiment with color and form in unprecedented ways. In some paintings, the fog is a dense, bluish-grey veil through which only the faintest outlines of bridges and buildings can be seen. In others, it takes on a golden glow, infused with the light of the rising or setting sun.
Monet famously remarked that “the fog in London assumes all sorts of colors; there are black, brown, yellow, green, purple fogs.” His paintings reflect this diversity—rather than being monochromatic, his fogs are alive with subtle shifts in hue and intensity. This obsession with atmospheric effects linked him to his fellow Impressionists, but Monet took it further, pushing the boundaries of perception and abstraction.
Monet’s Studio Work: The Long Journey to Completion
While Monet painted the initial impressions of his London series from direct observation, he did not complete them on-site. Instead, he brought his canvases back to his studio in Giverny, over a hundred of them, where he spent years refining them. This extended process underscores his commitment to perfecting the interplay of color and light.
For Monet, painting was not merely about replication but about evoking an emotional response. He would often revisit a single canvas dozens of times, layering delicate touches of color to achieve the perfect balance. Some paintings took him over a decade to complete. The process involved intense scrutiny; he would sometimes repaint entire sections, waiting for the right moment when memory, emotion, and technique aligned to bring the painting to its full potential.
The Impact of Monet’s London Series
At the time, Monet’s London paintings were groundbreaking. They blurred the line between representation and abstraction, capturing fleeting moments of light and weather with a radical approach to color and form. The exhibition at the Courtauld demonstrated how these works paved the way for future movements, including Fauvism and Abstract Expressionism, which further explored color and emotion over strict representation.
For visitors who, like Monet, feel a deep love for London, the exhibition was an immersive experience. Monet’s paintings encapsulate the city’s soul, the way it changes from one moment to the next, how it is both solid and ephemeral, familiar yet mysterious. The Monet and London exhibition was not just a display of beautiful paintings; it was a testament to the artist’s relentless pursuit of capturing the ineffable beauty of a city in flux.
A Personal Connection to London
As someone who deeply loves London, I find myself resonating with Monet’s enchantment with the city. The same elements that captivated him, the shifting light, the moody fog, the grand yet ephemeral nature of the Thames, continue to inspire me. There is something profoundly moving about seeing London through Monet’s eyes, knowing that over a century ago, he too stood by the river, mesmerized by its changing beauty. His paintings immortalize the city’s transient, almost melancholic atmosphere, an atmosphere I have often felt while walking along the Thames, watching the skyline dissolve into mist and golden light. Monet and I, separated by time but united by admiration, share a love for this gloomy, captivating city that lingers in both paint and memory.
“Every day, I find London more beautiful to paint.”
Letter from Claude Monet
London, 4 march 1900
Claude Monet’s London series remains one of the most evocative explorations of urban landscape in art history. The Courtauld’s monumental exhibition allowed audiences to witness firsthand how he transformed ordinary scenes into luminous, poetic visions. Through color, light, and atmosphere, Monet did not just depict London, he reimagined it, offering a timeless portrait of a city that continues to captivate artists and dreamers alike. His love for London resonates with all who have stood by the Thames, watched the changing skies, and felt the city’s pulse in their own way.
I have created a PDF file with all the artworks in the exhibition exclusively for you. To download the full list of artworks featured in the Monet and London: Views of the Thames" exhibition in order of which they were displayed (all 21 of them!), click the link below. Included is the museum or entity where they belong, with a corresponding link. Enjoy!
Enter here for virtual tour of the exhibition from the Courtauld Gallery.
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