Claude Monet, Meules, 1890

Hasso Plattner Collection, on permanent loan at the Museum Barberini, Potsdam

Image here from: https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/one-of-the-finest-examples-of-monets-haystack-paintings

According to Sotheby’s NY, a painting by Claude Monet of a few haystacks (yes, haystacks!) sold for $110.7m in May 2019. I don’t know what you think about that. I don’t know what I think about that. God alone knows what Monet would have thought about that! A man who spent of the 1870s writing to friends to beg a few francs so that he and his family could eat; who implored one friend, in 1879, to redeem his dead wife’s favourite ring from the pawn shop so that she could be buried with it.

I suppose there has always been something crazy and ugly about the world of fine art sales. Perhaps Monet wouldn’t be so surprised after all. It should also be noted that a work of breath-taking beauty - Effect of Snow at Louveciennes, by his dear friend and fellow Impressionist, Alfred Sisley - also sold recently at Sotheby’s for just over $9m, less than a tenth of the price of the Monet. Yes, crazy money too - but still, what is it about Monet? Well, we’re going to find out!

From his first forays into landscape painting as a youth in Le Havre, through the lean, desperate Impressionist years, to the salvation of Giverny and international recognition, we’ll follow the ups and downs - and my goodness, did he complain in his letters about even the slightest of downs! - of the first old master of Modernism.

RJW F2407 Online (via Zoom)

A 5-hour short course, delivered via 2 x 2½-hour sessions on consecutive Saturdays (Saturday 3 & Saturday 10 February, 10.30-1.00).

£40 (individual registration); £72 (for two people sharing one screen).