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Monet and Venice

The Church of Giorgio Maggiiore, Claude Monet (1908)

Monet and Venice is coming to the de Young Museum in San Francisco on March 21, 2026 through July 26, 2026. In 1908 Claude Monet and his second wife Alice made their only trip to Venice.The exhibition brings together 20 of the 37 Venice oil on canvas Paintings.

Before visiting Venice, Monet had been focusing on his garden in Giverny. He was unhappy with his progress and canceled his 1907 exhibition Water Lilies. Alice convinced him to take a break with a restorative visit to Venice.

Claude and Alice Monet, Venice (1908)

When they arrived in Venice Monet remarked to Alice that Venice is "too beautiful to be painted," adding that he was "too old to paint such beautiful things." He was 68. He planned to stay a few weeks but ended up staying for two months.

The works from his Venice trip are known for their impressionistic, dreamy quality, focusing on the interaction between water, light on buildings and atmosphere.

Alongside Mone't work, the exhibit will display art of Venice by his predecessors and contemporaries. There are over 100 items in the show including paintings, drawings and pastels.