The National Gallery has announced plans for Claude Monet’s “The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil” to embark on a tour across the United Kingdom. This initiative, part of the National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, aims to bring significant artworks to audiences outside of London.
The painting, created in 1872, depicts a serene winter scene on the outskirts of Argenteuil, a small suburban town near Paris. Monet’s work captures a tranquil moment by the river, showcasing his characteristic style with orderly composition, varied brushstrokes, and reflections in water. Despite Argenteuil’s growing industrialization and popularity for leisure activities, Monet chose to focus on the natural beauty of the area, only hinting at urban development through scattered buildings behind trees.
This tour marks a significant event, as the painting has only left the National Gallery once in the past two decades. The Masterpiece Tour, which has been running for over a decade, has reached nearly 401,000 people across the UK since its inception in 2014. Including other travelling exhibitions, the National Gallery’s touring program has engaged with over 1.4 million people in the same period.
Four partner institutions have been selected for this tour: the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich, South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool, and Ferens Art Gallery in Hull. Each venue will create a unique exhibition around the Monet painting, tailoring the display to themes relevant to their local communities.
The Sainsbury Centre plans to incorporate the painting into their 2025 season, which explores the question “Can We Stop Killing Each Other?” They will create a reflective space for contemplation and use it to develop trauma-informed cafes as part of their Compassionate Museum program.
South Shields Museum and Art Gallery will focus on connecting Monet’s work with their local landscape and collection. They will also feature artworks created through an engagement program with families of pupils experiencing Emotion-Based School Avoidance.
Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool will exhibit the Monet alongside a solo exhibition by contemporary Northwest-based artist Louise Giovanelli. They will also organize workshops and an exhibition featuring responses to Monet’s work by local schools and adults with learning disabilities.
Ferens Art Gallery plans to co-curate their exhibition with Flourish, their creative group for disabled and neurodivergent children and young people. The result will be a multi-sensory, immersive space that offers visitors a new and inclusive perspective on art.
National Gallery Director Sir Gabriele Finaldi emphasized the importance of bringing the collection to people across the country, stating that it supports the UK’s cultural ecosystem and allows for new interpretations through partnerships with local organizations and communities.
The tour is made possible through the support of Hiscox, the National Gallery’s first contemporary art partner. Robert Read, Hiscox Head of Art and Private Clients, expressed enthusiasm for the tour’s commitment to bringing important works of art to a wider audience.
The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour featuring Monet’s “The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil” is scheduled to take place from 2025 to 2027.
