The Brooklyn Museum is showcasing a groundbreaking exhibition dedicated to Claude Monet's artistic relationship with Venice, focusing on the 37 paintings the renowned French Impressionist created during his only visit to the Italian city. The exhibition "Monet and Venice," which opened Saturday and runs through February 1st, highlights a lesser-known chapter in the career of the master painter (1840-1926).
The paintings featured in the exhibition emerged from Monet's reluctant trip to Venice in 1908, when he accompanied his wife Alice Hoschedé to the Italian city at age 68. "He didn't want to leave Giverny, where he was already working on the water lilies, but he fell in love with the city," co-curator Lisa Small told AFP. The artist had planned a second visit, but Alice Hoschedé's death in 1911 prevented this return. "Monet therefore finished these paintings in a state of sadness and mourning," Small explained.
The exhibition traces this pivotal journey through the couple's personal archives, including postcards and photographs from their time in Venice. Most importantly, it features 19 paintings depicting the iconic buildings of the City of Doges, observed from various distances and at different times of day. The Doge's Palace and the Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore emerge from the canals in an evanescent atmosphere that captures Monet's distinctive impressionistic style.
Water and its reflections dominate these Venetian works, echoing themes present in Monet's Norman and London paintings, as well as his famous water lilies series, which are also displayed at the Brooklyn Museum, New York's second-largest art museum. Venice itself serves as the second protagonist of this comprehensive exhibition, which expands to include other artistic representations of the city by masters such as Canaletto (1697-1768), J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851), and John Singer Sargent (1856-1925).
The exhibition's centerpiece features Monet's principal paintings presented with musical accompaniment—a symphony created specifically for the occasion by Niles Luther, a composer in residence at the museum. This musical element pays tribute to art critics who, "especially toward the end of his career, often spoke of Monet's work in musical terms... from the symphony of colors to the harmony of brushstrokes or the idea that his paintings were variations on a theme," Small noted.
"This is an integral part of the experience," she emphasized. "For us as museums, it's important to try to connect with visitors through every possible means." The innovative approach reflects the Brooklyn Museum's commitment to creating immersive experiences that deepen visitors' understanding and appreciation of Monet's artistic legacy during his transformative Venice period.
