I arrived early at The Courtauld Gallery on Thursday 17th October and as the Monet exhibition was busy I had to wait until the allotted entry time of 10:30am.
That gave me a good excuse to look at works in the permanent collection, Cézanne, Van Gogh as well as Monet.

I am so glad that these Cézanne paintings are in London and easily accessible at The Courtauld Gallery. They are a sustained inspiration!

Paul Cézanne
Les grands arbres au Jas de Bouffan, 1885–8

(detail)

Paul Cézanne
La Montagne Sainte-Victoire au grand pin, c.1887

Paul Cézanne
Le Lac d'Annecy, 1896

(detail)

Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Autumn Effect at Argenteuil 1873
oil on canvas

(detail)

The Monet waterlily paintings were also an inspiration but I had never really looked at the earlier Monet paintings nor had I spent any time looking at Van Gogh so the current London exhibitions are a remarkable opportunity.

Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Antibes 1888
oil paint on canvas

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Peach Trees in Blossom 1889
oil paint on canvas

(detail)

The Van Gogh self portrait is possibly 'better' than the portraits in the National Gallery. The background Japanese print is a clear indication of the influence in Van Goghs works.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear 1889
oil on canvas

(detail)

Charing Cross Bridge The Thames 1903

And then to the Monet exhibition... It occupied the usual two rooms for the changing shows, dimly lit with fairly dark walls. All the paintings were behind low reflection glass and all in varying degrees of deep, ornate and gilded frames.

(detail)

As it is a small exhibition I quite quickly identified the paintings which were of most interest. They were the ones with the more extreme tonal variation and often had 'sunlight effect' as part of the title.

(detail)

Charing Cross Bridge The Thames 1903

Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903
oil on canvas

(detail)

Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903
oil on canvas

Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903
oil on canvas

Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903
oil on canvas

Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903
oil on canvas

(detail)

Waterloo Bridge, Sunlight Effect 1903
oil on canvas

I did not stay in the gallery long, concentration lapses a bit after about half an hour and so set off for home taking in a look up the river to the 'new' Waterloo Bridge, Charing Cross Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.