The Thames and the Parliament
- Original dimensions
- 72.5 x 47 cm
- Museum
- National Gallery
- Year
- 1871
Scene depicted
This painting captures a fleeting moment of ephemeral beauty. The painting represents one of the most emblematic testimonies of the harmony between man and nature, through the reflection of the skies on the moving surface of the Thames. Monet, observing the Parliament engulfed in diffused light, reflects on the passage of time and the eternity of simple moments.
Historical context
Year: 1871 |BRK| Museum: National Gallery |BRK| Dimensions: 72.5 x 47 cm
Place in the artist's career
"The Thames and the Parliament" is situated at a crossroads in Monet's career, a period where he combines both experimentation and mastery. Alongside " Impression, Sunrise " and " The Water Lilies ", this canvas testifies to the evolution of his style, oscillating between abstraction and realism, and perpetuating this quest for light.
Anecdote
“I paint the light, not just the objects” Monet might have said while looking at this panorama. Imagine him, that morning, on the banks of the Thames, a light mist floating on the surface, the song of barges drifting away and the bell of Big Ben resonating in the distance. These moments of grace inspired the artist, resulting in a canvas vibrant with colors, like an embrace between light and water.