In October 1908, at the age of 68, the French Impressionist painter Claude Monet made his way to Venice with his second spouse, Alice. This was his first and only visit to the city, but it profoundly impacted him. The breathtaking canals and intricate architecture of Venice inspired over 100 artworks. Currently, the de Young museum in San Francisco is featuring more than 20 of Monet\u2019s Venetian paintings in the first exhibition focused on these works since their initial presentation in Paris more than a century ago.<\/p>\n
Following its premiere in Brooklyn, the Monet and Venice exhibition is jointly organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Brooklyn Museum. The works Monet created while inspired by Venice are carefully displayed alongside select pieces from his entire career, including his renowned Water Lilies. Additional significant pieces include The Doge\u2019s Palace and The Grand Canal, Venice, both borrowed from the Brooklyn Museum and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite the fact that Monet only visited Venice one time, his depictions of the city rank among his most exquisite,\u201d remarked Thomas P. Campbell, director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. \u201cIn contrast to the lively scenes depicted by other artists, Monet’s Venice appears eerily abandoned, with its structures, buildings, and canals fading into an ethereal light. This exhibition provides a chance to witness Monet\u2019s exquisite interpretation of the renowned Italian city, allowing visitors to gain new insights into an artist they might believe they fully understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monet was so captivated by Venice that he famously stated he thought the city was \u201ctoo beautiful to be painted.\u201d Although he initially intended to stay for a few weeks, he ended up staying for two months, frequently rendering his views from a canal gondola, similar to the “studio boat” he utilized earlier in his profession on the Seine.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis Venetian paintings are counted among the most radiant and lyrical of his oeuvre, yet they often pale in comparison to his representations of the French countryside, as well as his late pieces connected to the emergence of 20th-century abstraction,\u201d noted Melissa E. Buron, director of collections and chief curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, co-curator of the exhibition, and former director of curatorial affairs at the Fine Arts Museums. \u201cHis time spent in Venice represented a significant phase of creative revival that has not previously been thoroughly examined until this exhibition.\u201d<\/p>\n
The exhibition also features works from other artists who worked in Venice, such as Canaletto, John Singer Sargent, J. M. W. Turner, and James McNeill Whistler. Collectively, they illustrate how Monet ultimately transformed the city\u2019s rich artistic legacy.<\/p>\n
Monet and Venice is now open for viewing until July 26, 2026, at de Young. More information about the exhibition can be found on the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco website.<\/p>\n
More than 20 of Claude Monet\u2019s paintings of Venice are now showcased at the de Young museum in San Francisco.<\/p>\n
Monet was so taken by Venice that he once said he found the city \u201ctoo beautiful to be painted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Grand Canal, Venice,\u201d 1908 by Claude Monet<\/p>\n
Though he originally planned to stay a few weeks, his stay extended to two months, during which he frequently painted from a canal gondola.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rio della Salute,\u201d 1908 by Claude Monet<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Doge’s Palace (Palais ducal),\u201d 1908 by Claude Monet<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice,\u201d 1908 by Claude Monet<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Palazzo de Mula, Venice\u201d 1908 by Claude Monet<\/p>\n
Monet\u2019s Venice-inspired pieces are effectively presented alongside select works from his extensive career, which includes his celebrated Water Lilies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWater Lilies,\u201d ca. 1914-1917 by Claude Monet<\/p>\n
Exhibition Information:
\nMonet and Venice
\nMarch 21 \u2013 July 26, 2026
\nde Young
\nGolden Gate Park
\n50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
\nSan Francisco, CA 94118<\/p>\n
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco \/ de Young: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube<\/p>\n
My Modern Met granted permission to showcase images by Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco \/ de Young.<\/p>\n
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\nExploring How Monet\u2019s Famous \u2018Haystacks\u2019 Paintings Explored the Beauty of the Changing Seasons
\nThe Story and Inspiration Behind Claude Monet\u2019s Iconic \u2018Water Lilies\u2019 Series
\nAfter Being Postponed for 120 Years, Monet\u2019s \u2018Thames\u2019 Paintings Will Finally Exhibit in London
\nClaude Monet\u2019s Stepdaughter Finally Gains Recognition in First-Ever U.S. Show<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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