San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk

French artist Claude Monet painted this atmospheric view of Venice in 1908 during his only visit to the city. The church of San Giorgio Maggiore rises as a silhouette against a sky blazing with sunset colors, its reflection shimmering in the lagoon waters. Monet was 68 years old but produced some of his most vibrant work during this trip.

Monet painted approximately 37 canvases during his three months in Venice, working from his hotel and from a gondola. The purple, pink, and orange sky demonstrates his mature mastery of color. He later refined these paintings in his Giverny studio, though he considered Venice views among his most difficult subjects.