Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through

Claude Monet captured one of his most dramatic atmospheric moments in this painting, where sunlight breaks through London's dense fog. The Houses of Parliament stand as a dark silhouette against the luminous sky, their Gothic spires reaching into the golden haze. This interplay of light and shadow represents Monet's Thames series at its most theatrical.

Monet painted this view from St Thomas' Hospital, working during autumn and winter months when fog was most reliable. He considered London's atmosphere unmatched anywhere in Europe. The city's industrial pollution, so harmful to residents, created the very effects that made these paintings possible. By the time he exhibited them in 1904, the Thames series had become among his most acclaimed works.

This masterwork of Impressionism hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, where visitors can experience Monet's notable ability to capture fleeting moments of light.

Monet painted the Parliament at various times, but particularly favored afternoon and sunset when the sun's angle created dramatic backlighting through the fog. He began his first Parliament painting around 3:45 PM on February 13, 1900.

No. Monet made initial studies in London but continued refining the paintings at his Giverny studio in France. He even requested photographs of the buildings to help his memory, working on the series until 1903.

This painting hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The museum's Impressionist collection includes multiple works from Monet's London series.

This masterwork of Impressionism hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, where visitors can experience Monet's notable ability to capture fleeting moments of light.

This painting hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The museum's Impressionist collection includes multiple works from Monet's London series.

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Houses of Parliament Series by Claude Monet