Rouen Cathedral (Monet)
The Rouen Cathedral is a 33 paintings comprehensive series of paintings by Claude Monet, which was 1892-1894. It shows the Cathedral of Rouen in different light situations and some with slight variations of the point. The images are among the highlights of Monet's work.
Image description
The 33 pictures show all the Rouen Cathedral in an image filling view. 28 of the photos show the west facade, five other small parts of the cathedral. The Gothic facade is shown in extreme close, but not in a realistic and detailed representation of the architecture. Instead, the essential elements of the picture, the colored light and the reproduction of the appearance of the building in various lighting conditions, the time of day and the weather conditions.
Claude Monet painted the first two images in the west facade series in direct frontal view. The focus wandered over time further to the right, as Monet's changed position twice. So there are three different perspectives from which emerged the images. The five other paintings show the Cour d' Albane ( northwestern Cathedral side) and other sites.
Genesis
The idea of a series of pictures was created during the 1880s. The two versions of the same subject from different perspectives Woman with a Parasol from 1886 show the approach of a concept. 1890 and 1891 caused the series to the haystack and the poplars, where the same subject was held in the different lighting conditions of different seasons. The images of the series of Rouen Cathedral Claude Monet painted 1892/1893 with interruptions in Rouen and completed it in 1894 in Giverny. Therefore, most signatures bear year dates 1894.
The design he found during a trip in 1892 and immediately began a vacant apartment to paint. However, he could not complete the picture, because he had to urgently return to Giverny. When he arrived back in Rouen, his apartment was no longer available and he had to choose a new location. Monet was the main subject and drawing for the print series to the big screen. However, the painting caused him problems. He has nightmares and even destroyed some screens. Towards the middle of April, he then returned to Giverny, to recover from the effort. He had doubts about the quality of his paintings in the cathedral. The next year, Monet returned to Rouen, to devote himself again to the subject. After completing his work in Rouen he put the pictures in February 1894 in his studio in Giverny done.
Assessment
Kasimir Malevich Sewerinowitsch said of Monet's Rouen Cathedral: " [This is ] painting in the strict sense, movement and infinite growth of colored spots, which nobody has ever seen. Monet had when he painted the cathedral, play of light and shadow on the walls of the cathedral in mind, but in reality he concentrated on the development of a painting, as it grows on the walls of a cathedral. His major goal was not light and shadow [ ... ] It's not about the cathedral, but the painting " Monet himself described his working method with the focus on the atmosphere and the undetaillierten reproduction of the architecture with the words: ". I want reflect what I feel in front of the subject. "
Provenance
Claude Monet held back the images of the Cathedral longer time before he was hesitant art dealers Paul Durand- Ruel and Bernheim. He was aware of the artistic value of his work and put the price first at 15,000 francs fixed. About this price, it came into conflict with Durand- Ruel, the latter appeared excessive. As a result of the confrontation Monet lowered its expectation of 12,000 francs and the sale exhibition shifted further back. This took place with 20 of the Cathedrals images May 1895 at Durand- Ruel place and was successful for Monet.
Images of this group are now in various museums and collections around the world.