Where to See Houses of Parliament, Sunset 02: Musée d'Orsay

Claude Monet painted the sunset view of Westminster as part of his extensive Thames series. The fading light transforms the Gothic architecture into a dark mass against an orange and violet sky. Reflections shimmer on the water's surface, breaking the Parliament's silhouette into fragments of color.

Sunset paintings held particular importance within Monet's Parliament series. The low angle of evening light intensified the fog's golden quality, creating effects he found nowhere else. He worked obsessively on these variations, writing to his dealer that he couldn't send any paintings because none was truly complete without the others present for comparison.

This Impressionist work demonstrates Monet's mature command of color and atmosphere. It resides at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. Collectors drawn to sunset paintings will recognize Monet's influence on this enduring subject.

Monet painted several sunset variations of the Houses of Parliament. The exact number varies depending on how the works are categorized, but sunset and twilight scenes form a significant portion of the nineteen documented Parliament paintings.

Monet used serial painting to explore how light transformed a single motif throughout different times and conditions. By comparing multiple versions, he could understand exactly how atmosphere affected color and form.

This painting hangs at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France, alongside other works from Monet's Thames series.

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Houses of Parliament Series by Claude Monet

Houses of Parliament, London

Houses of Parliament at Sunset

Houses of Parliament, Westminster

Houses of Parliament, Fog Effect

Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament in Winter

Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through

Houses of Parliament, Effect of Sunlight in the Fog

More by Claude Monet

Waterloo Bridge

Grainstack in Winter, Misty Weather

The Big Blue Mediterranean at Antibes

The Old Fort at Antibes

Also at Musée d'Orsay

Lola de Valence

A Country Brasserie, Brannenburg, Bavaria

Man smoking a pipe

River's Edge The Siene at Herblay

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