A
ccording to a journalist who interviewed Claude Monet in 1897, the artist read ‘more
catalogues and horticultural price lists than articles on aesthetics.’ Who knew? I studied
Impressionism for my history of art masters’ degree but don’t recall our lectures about
Monet highlighting the extent of the significance that gardens, and gardening as a serious
horticultural interest, had on the development of his painting.
So it was a real eye-opener, literally, to view the truly stunning, blockbuster exhibition Painting
the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, on show at the Royal Academy until April 20, 2016. The
touchstone of the exhibition is clearly Monet, and the enormous impact gardens and gardening
had on his work, and ultimately on the rise of modernism and abstract expressionism in the 1950s.
But beyond Monet, there are many other fabulous artists included from this period, whose
chromatic compositions of cactus dahlias (popular at this time), chrysanthemums, roses, sunflowers
and myriad other exotic species, will dazzle your senses. And there’s more; the exhibition includes
all kinds of interesting horticultural facts about everything from hybridisation to the irrigation of
Giverny, which means garden enthusiasts as well as art lovers will love this show.
The exhibition takes as its premise Monet’s statement that ‘I perhaps owe it to flowers that I
became a painter.’ And what a painter. Although the exhibition is arranged thematically, I enjoyed
the chronological arrangement of Monet’s work throughout the exhibition, which enables the
visitor to study his artistic development. In the first gallerySpring Flowers, 1864, reveals Monet’s
pre-Impressionist and already intense focus on flowers; moving through the galleries you come
across the flattened perspective and beautiful Chrysanthemums, 1897, and his early Giverny square-
format paintings of the garden, pond and Japanese bridge, then his later Giverny larger-format,
more gestural water-landscape compositions that pre-date the work of the 1950s American
abstract expressionists, to the final, tour de force and magnificent display of the Agapanthus
triptych c1915-26. These three 14-foot long panels have never been seen together in Europe before
and to stand in front of these massive veils of coloured light, enlivened by gestural flicks, swirls and
calligraphic brush marks based on Monet’s interpretation of his lily ponds, is intensely emotional.
Monet’s aim to create this encircling panorama to envelop the viewer and restore a sense of peace
and harmony at a time of war has left us with a timeless, inspirational experience.
It would be hard to argue with the belief of one of the show’s curators that Monet represents the
greatest painter of gardens in the history of modern art, and from the evidence presented so
creatively in this exhibition, I can’t think of any other artist who has combined both interests to the
depth that he did.
Do see it if you can before it closes on April 20; the riot of colour certainly lifted my spirits on the
grey, dismal day in January when I visited.from the editor
WELCOME
Want to comment on something you’ve read, or seen?
Email me at [email protected], or visit our website at http://www.painters-online.co.uk/forumBest wishesartistApril 2016 3
Let us know what you think at• [email protected] • http://www.painters-online.co.uk/forum- http://www.facebook.com/paintersonline • twitter.com/artpublishing
Subscription orders
should be sent to: The Artist, Circulation
Dept, Caxton House, 63/65 High Street,
Tenterden, Kent TN30 6BD. Tel: 01580
763673
Rates are:
UK – £36 (includes Northern Ireland);
EC member countries –€67;
USA – $80 (air freight); Canada – $92 (air
freight). All other countries £50 (air freight).
Payments by credit card are taken in sterling
at £50. Foreign currency prices include bank
charges. Periodicals postage paid at Rahway,
NJ. US subscribers only: Send address
corrections to The Artist, c/o Mercury
Airfreight International Ltd, 365 Blair Road,
Avenel, NJ 07001
News-trade distribution by:
Warners Group Publications plc. Tel: 01778
391000 All material copyrighted;
reproduction forbidden without permission.
Views expressed by contributors are not
necessarily those of the publisher
is printed by Warners Midlands
PLC, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne,
Lincolnshire PE10 9PH and published every
four weeks by THE ARTISTS’ PUBLISHING
COMPANY LT DManaging Editor:
Sally BulginPhD Hon VPRBSA
Deputy Editor:
Deborah Wanstall
Advertising sales:
Anna-Marie Brown 01778 392048
[email protected]
Advertisement copy:
Sue Woodgates: 01778 392062
[email protected]
Online Editor:
Dawn Farley
Design:
Brenda Hedley
Subscriptions & Marketing Manager:
Wendy Gregory
Subscriptions:
Liza Kitney and Nicci Salmon
[email protected]
01580 763673/01580 763315
Accounts:
01778 391000
[email protected]
Events Manager:
Caroline GriffithsCaxton House, 63/65 High
Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6BD Telephone
01580 763673 Fax 01580 765411
Advertising 01778 392048
http://www.painters-online.co.ukincorporating ART & ARTISTS
First established 1931
ISSN 0004-
Vol 131 No.
ISSUE 1027artistartistTHIS MONTH’S COVER ARTISTGlyn Macey, City Streets, New York,
acrylic, 10 14in (25.5 35.5cm)
See pages 26 to 29Publication of an article or inclusion of an
advertisement does not necessarily imply
that TAPC is in agreement with the views
expressed, or represents endorsement of
products, materials or techniques. TAPC
does not accept responsibility for errors,
omissions or images received in good faithSally BulginEditorPSReaders who love painting gardens will be interested in our Reader Holiday led by Pamela Kay
NEAC, RBA, RWS, ARWS, to paint the gardens and chateaux of the Loire and Monet’s garden at
Giverny from June 2 to 10, 2016, organised on our behalf by Spencer Scott Travel Services Ltd. For
more details and how to book email [email protected], or call 01825 714310.