Last updated: 27 October 2026
Claude Monet is the French Impressionist painter of water lilies, haystacks and Rouen Cathedral. Here you will find our take on his work, where to see it in the UK, Tate Modern’s 2027 show, and what you can buy.
Our take on Claude Monet
Monet painted the same subject again and again in changing light. The National Gallery calls him “the leading French Impressionist landscape painter”, and notes that the title of one of his paintings led to the naming of the movement.
From 1883 he lived at Giverny, north-west of Paris, and concentrated on series showing one subject in different conditions: poplars, haystacks, Rouen Cathedral and his own garden. He also spent the Franco-Prussian war (1870–1) in London.
The National Gallery holds 19 of his works. Tate Modern opens its first exhibition devoted only to Monet, Monet: Painting Time, on 25 February 2027.
Claude Monet: the essentials
- Born in Paris in 1840, the son of a grocer, and grew up in Le Havre, according to the National Gallery.
- Met Renoir, Sisley and Bazille in Charles Gleyre’s studio in Paris.
- Painted Bathers at La Grenouillère in 1869, working beside Renoir.
- Lived at Argenteuil from 1871 to 1878, and at Giverny from 1883.
- Died in 1926. The National Gallery holds 19 of his works.
Claude Monet exhibitions
- Coming up: Monet: Painting Time, Tate Modern, 25 February to 27 June 2027. Tate’s first exhibition devoted only to Monet; free for Tate Members.
- The National Gallery holds 19 Monet paintings in its collection.
Where to buy Claude Monet
Many “Monet prints” are unofficial posters; museum shops are the safe bet. From the Tate shop:
Claude Monet FAQs
Where can I see Monet in London?
The National Gallery holds 19 of his works, and Tate Modern’s Monet: Painting Time runs from 25 February to 27 June 2027.
Why is it called Impressionism?
The National Gallery says the title of one of Monet’s paintings led to the naming of the movement.
Did Monet live in London?
He moved to London during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 to 1871.
Where did Monet paint his water lilies?
In his own garden at Giverny, north-west of Paris, where he lived from 1883.
More from CoolCuration
- Van Gogh Sunflowers print: the National Gallery’s own reproduction.
- Frieze Masters review: older art at the Regent’s Park fair.
- National Art Pass: discounts on big shows across the UK.
- Great Art Explained: James Payne’s guide to how famous works were made.
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Main image: Claude Monet, 1899. Photo: Nadar, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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