Impressionist highlights in Normandy
Rouen
Pissarro once claimed Rouen to be "as beautiful as Venice". He is not the city's only admirer. Ideally located on the Seine between Paris and the Normandy coast, Rouen's heyday was during the Impressionist period. Artists flocked to the city, fascinated by the new industrial sites, the area's natural beauty and the plethora of unspoiled architectural gems. The majestic cathedral would have its moment of glory when Monet consecrated some 30 canvases to its façade, painted at various times of day to capture the changes in luminosity. Meanwhile, the Saint Sever district on the left bank, once the heart of Rouen's docklands, was immortalised by Camille Pissarro in 1896. Both artists succumbed to the charms of the half-timbered houses and narrow streets. The scene, as they saw it, was destroyed during WWII but you can still visit the rebuilt street which offers wonderful views of the cathedral.
Rouen Fine Arts Museum
Proudly boasting the second-largest collection of Impressionist works in France, after the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, the Rouen Fine Arts Museum owes its extensive collection to a generous donor who bequeathed over 53 paintings to the museum in 1909. These include major works by Monet, Sisley, Pissarro, Degas, Boudin and Renoir, including some of the paintings in Monet's cathedral series.
Giverny
As the Vernon-Gasny train chugged across the tranquil Norman countryside, a French artist and his partner Alice noticed a delightful town from their spot at the window. Charmed by the sight, the man later brought Alice here to live and there they stayed for 43 years. The artist was of course Claude Monet and the town was that of Giverny. This quaint retreat on the Seine became Monet's home in 1883 and by 1887, the spot had transformed into something of an artists' colony. The area not only welcomed Monet, but many fellow artists including Cézanne, Renoir, Sisley, Pissarro and Matisse who visited and painted with him. Monet's famous water-lilies, painted in the garden he lovingly created at his Giverny home, have long been synonymous
with the Impressionist movement. Visit Monet's house and gardens in Giverny to see for yourself the actual water-lilies that inspired the great master.
Giverny Impressionisms Museum
Opened in 2009, Giverny's new museum entirely dedicated to the Impressionist movement is a tribute to the Impressionist painters who settled in the Seine Valley, either for a summer or a lifetime, inviting visitors to explore the history and influence of Impressionism.
www.museedesimpressionnismesgiverny.com
The Seine Valley
The Impressionists found the river Seine and its banks to be a never-ending source of inspiration. The interaction between light and water was a recurring theme. Armand Guillaumin, who developed a landscape style tinged with romanticism, was just one Impressionist who rose to the challenge of painting the river's unique atmosphere.
The Alabaster Coast
This coastline of chalk cliffs and green pastures stretches from Le Havre eastward along the coast to Fécamp. Special mention goes to Etretat and its stunning cliff formations, including the famous chalk needle. Monet interpreted many of the scenes along this coast, leaving us a canvas trail to follow, an invitation to explore it on our own.
Le Havre
The Impressionists, attracted by the unique, ever-changing light play in the estuary, attempted to capture its colours on canvas. A chic 19th century seaside resort for Parisians, the town was also the summer home of Monet who frequently stayed, and worked, at his aunt's house in Sainte-Adresse.
Malraux Museum, Le Havre
The natural, shifting light of Le Havre's estuary once inspired Impressionists to paint some of their greatest works. Today, it floods this seafront museum with a soft luminosity and makes it the fitting home for one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings in France. Step in off the boardwalk to admire paintings by Courbet, Corot, Boudin, Monet, Sisley, Pissarro, Dufy, Renoir and Matisse.
Honfleur
A charming fishing port, Honfleur looks much as it did when Monet was a frequent visitor. Forerunner of the Impressionist movement, Honfleur-born Eugène Boudin was a strong influence on Claude Monet, who once said "If I became a painter, I owe it to Boudin". Monet first met Boudin in Honfleur, and would subsequently drag the whole band of renegade artists - Courbet, Corot, Sisley, Pissarro and Renoir - to the Saint Simeon farm. From this promontory they endlessly painted the colours of the Seine bay and surrounding area, earning them the title of "Estuary Painters".
Eugène Boudin Museum, Honfleur
A hymn to Impressionism and to the beautiful town of Honfleur, this museum was co-founded by Eugène Boudin. Dedicated to 19th and 20th century works by local Norman artists, its collection ranges from Isabey's dark Romanticism to the luminous brushwork of Monet and includes a number of paintings by the "Estuary Painters". Two areas are dedicated to Boudin's works - 92 in all - including pastels, oil paintings and drawings.
The Floral Coast
Scenes of these trendy seaside resorts were painted by a number of Impressionists, including the Plage à Trouville by Eugène Boudin (1893). Deauville's sandy beach dotted with brightly coloured beach umbrellas, its whitewashed bath houses and
traditional boardwalk confer a timeless feel to the familiar scene. Monet also painted the seaside resort of Cabourg and its Grand Hotel, reflecting the varying moods of the sea and sky.
