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Rouen Cathedral: setting sun (symphony in grey and black)
Working from the window of a milliner's shop overlooking its facade, Monet began his series of over thirty views of Rouen Cathedral in February 1892. He returned in February 1893 and completed it at Giverny in 1893-94. This painting of the cathedral viewed by the light of the setting sun is one of twenty 'Cathédrales' exhibited to immense critical success at Paris in 1895. As a record of the ways in which light transforms the appearance of a motif, the series nears the limits of 'scientific' Impressionism. The 1890s were a decade of nationalist revival in France and Monet's choice of a great French mediaeval monument in the city where Joan of Arc was martyred implies a consciously patriotic purpose. The unusual frame of this painting, with historicising pilasters and the inscription 'Cl. Monet' in gothic letters, suggests that a previous owner perceived it as a nationalist symbol as well as a dispassionate record of light effects. Gwendoline Davies purchased this work at Paris in December 1917.
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Comments - (7)
Hi Zehua Xiao,
This work can be found on display in Gallery 16, the French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Gallery.
I hope you enjoy your visit.
With best wishes,
Jennifer Dudley
Curator: Art Collections Management and Access
Dear Amber, thank you for your comment.
Yes this work by Monet is currently on display in our French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Gallery (Gallery 16 on the visitor map).
We look forward to welcoming you to National Museum Cardiff and wish you an enjoyable visit.
Graham
Digital Team
Amgueddfa Cymru
Thank you for your enquiry. Rouen Cathedral will form part of the new gallery displays that open on 30th September 2010. The work is not due to go out on loan in the next year at this point but it is always best to check closer to the date of your visit.
Thank for answering my inquiry
Dr Laszlo Gyermek EM : laslogy3@gmail.com