![]() On the contrary, ‘Rouen Cathedral, Façade One’ could not be more different. It is a striking sight, making the facade look ironically devilish. In ‘Rouen Cathedral, Façade One’ the frame is dominated by piercing pinks and reds, stippled together to craft the spiked turrets of the cathedral. This is likely why Monet’s oeuvre is noted for being incredibly atmospheric and poetic.įurther, Monet’s ‘Harmonies’ depended on the time of year and time of day. He scorned the colour theories followed religiously by his juniors, instead wishing to rely on his instincts alone when painting. Unlike the Post-Impressionists, the Impressionists were not guided by scientific theories and Monet was no exception. Drawing on the physical sensation of temperature, Monet coined colour schemes based on the mood they provided. The change in seasons convinced Monet to express the fluctuating conditions he found through his palette. He penned a letter to his beloved wife, Alice, exclaiming, “I work like a mad man, I cannot stop thinking of anything else but the cathedral”. Placing organic light at the forefront of his technique proved a test for the master painter.ĭue to the meticulous planning of his compositions, Monet found the answer to his problem of constantly changing light. However, Monet soon found that the weather conditions, which he was so used to after working in the countryside, had a completely different effect on man-made structures. As predicted, it was this feature that appealed to Monet’s fascination with natural light. While the artist experienced some setbacks, he went about the initial section of his project with an optimistic outlook, writing, “More than ever I detest the things in which I have success at the first attempt”. Its anatomy was tormenting to the Impressionists: the cavernous archways provided the perfect setup for exploring light and shadow. Monet cast most of his concentration on the edifice’s impressive entryway. This meant that he could alternate his canvases between painting ‘en plein air’ from a nearby market squareand indoors when the weather conditions worsened. Until this point, Monet had painted cityscapes sparingly, preferring to seek his subjects in the natural world.įor the series, he planned his compositions cautiously, choosing to position his easel in five different places. Though not Monet’s first or only group of cohesive canvases, ‘Rouen Cathedral’ was certainly the most challenging. It now belongs to the Clark Art Institute in Massachusetts in the US. In 1995, Monet’s ‘La Cathedrale de Rouen, Le Portail, Plein Soleil Effet d’Apres-Midi’ (1894) was estimated to be worth $11.9 million. The same piece was purchased for £7,591,500 in the same year, further evidence of itspopularity. In 1984, a ‘Rouen’ painting was sold for $2.3 million in New York and things only improved from there. After the Impressionists suffered almost half a century of being ignored by the art establishment, the 1980s brought about a new wave of passion for figurative art. In more recent times, the adoration for Monet’s ‘Rouen Cathedral’ series has been rekindled. This was a significant offer but Monet declined, preferring to sell his works individually to art dealers, many of whom were his friends and long-term supporters. However, before the deals were finalised, the French state requested that the whole set be purchased on their behalf. This was much to gallery-owner Paul Durand-Ruel’s shock, as he had formerly suggested that 15,000 Francs was too steep a price for the works. The regard for Monet’s religious series started with their debut. By exhibiting his paintings at the Durand-Ruel Gallery in Paris in 1895, Monet successfully acquired eight buyers within a month. In addition, Monet’s Impressionist colleagues, Camille Pissarro and Paul Cézanne, were outspoken in their support. Rouen Cathedral, Façade and the D’Albane Tower, Grey Weatherĭespite Monet’s misgivings, the ‘Rouen Cathedral’ collection was met with monstrous praise from the public. Rouen Cathedral, Façade and the D’Albane Tower, Dull Day Rouen Cathedral, Setting Sun Grey and Pink Symphony Rouen Cathedral, Façade, Sunset Blue and Gold Harmony The Portal of Rouen Cathedral in Morning Light National Gallery of Art, United States of America Rouen Cathedral, the West Portal, Dull Weather The Portal and the Tower of Saint-Romain at Rouen Cathedral, Morning Sun Blue Harmony Rouen Cathedral, the Portal of the Saint-Romain Tower, Morning Effect White Harmony Rouen Cathedral, the Gate and the Saint-Romain Tower in Full Sun Blue and Gold Harmony
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