Walks: Hood and Presidio
Distances: 4 miles average
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| Claude Monet, The Grand Canal, Venice, 1908, o/c |
Countless people have viewed and loved Claude Monet's water lilies paintings since the early 1900's. But few know that the revered works may never have been painted or made public if Monet had not taken a trip to Venice in 1908. He was 68 years old at the time and in the spiritual and artistic doldrums. He'd begun a few waterlilies paintings but, after struggling to get them right, still had no confidence in them and doubts about his remaining painting abilities. Although Monet had rejected the idea for years, his wife, Alice, finally persuaded him that a trip together to Venice would be restorative for both of them. Even then, Monet agreed to only three weeks in that city he felt had been commercialized by fellow artists who had portrayed it "too beautifully" to be real.
But when he actually saw it, it was love at first sight. He picked certain locations and buildings, set up his easel daily, and painted them repeatedly until he felt he had truly captured the shimmery atmosphere of each chosen site. At the end of ten weeks, he and Alice couldn't extend their stay any longer, so he said a reluctant farewell with every intention of returning.
Sadly, Alice died shortly after their stay, and, very much in her honor and with her in mind, he completed several more canvases based on memories and postcards. Then, his deep belief in his artistic talents restored, he painted the most beautiful of all of his waterlily paintings until his death at age 86.
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| Claude Monet, Water Lilies, ca. 1914–17, oil on canvas The deYoung Museum's Monet and Venice Exhibition is in San Francisco until July 26 |
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