arts
March 24, 2026
‘What a fascinating challenge for an artist’: how Monet captured Venice in his twilight years
de Young Museum, San Francisco New exhibition brings together the artist’s many Venetian paintings, a perfect match of artist and location that almost didn’t happen
TL;DR
- Claude Monet visited Venice at the age of 68, a surprising fact given the city's popularity among artists.
- The exhibition 'Monet and Venice' at San Francisco's de Young Museum showcases his Venetian works, alongside pieces by other artists like Whistler, Renoir, and Turner.
- Monet's initial two-week trip to Venice was extended to two months, allowing him to create numerous paintings.
- The exhibition highlights that Monet's visit was nearly canceled, countering the assumption that it was a predetermined event.
- Monet's time in Venice influenced his decision to return to his waterlily series, which he had previously considered abandoning.
- The show is arranged by the various parts of Venice that Monet painted, including the Grand Canal and San Giorgio Maggiore.
- The exhibition presents Monet's Venetian paintings as a collection that almost didn't happen but resulted in an entrancing display.
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