Monet, Claude (1840-1926)
L’église de Vétheuil (The Church at Vétheuil)
1880
Oil on canvas, 50.5 x 61 cm
Southampton City Art Gallery, Southampton
Monet moved with his family to Vétheuil in 1878 and despite the death of his wife the following year this proved to be an important period in his development as a landscape painter. The church was the subject for a series of paintings, viewed from different positions at different times of year. This version was painted from a boat on the River Seine. To capture constantly changing effects of light and colour Monet had to work quickly using rapid dabs of the brush, this is particularly noticeable in the shimmering reflections on the river.
Monet was the key figure in the French Impressionist movement, following its principles to the end of his life. From the 1860s Monet, Renoir, Sisley and other Paris-based artists began exploring a shared interest open air painting and subjects drawn from contemporary life. After their first exhibition in 1874 they became known as the Impressionists. (SCAG)