Cabane des Douaniers, effect d’apres midi - 1882

Oil on Canvas, Framed Size 99cm x 76cm

Musee des Douanes, Bordeaux

Sold by Sotherby’s New York in 2009 for £2,219,699.

Located along the Normandy coast just west of Dieppe at Varangeville, Monet painted several versions of this dramatic setting in 1882.

The small cabin that appears in many of his paintings was built as a customs house during the Napoleonic blockade of Europe, from this cliff top officials could spot incoming cargo ships that needed to be intercepted and taxed.

Later the weathered cabin was used by local fishermen for storage and shelter

Coucher de Soleil a Lavacourt - 1880

Oil on Canvas, Framed size 99cm x 72cm

Private Collection

Coucher de Soleil a Lavacourt, (sunset at Lavacourt), is one of a group of paintings by Monet showing the harsh effects of Winter at the beginning of the year, while staying nearby with his family.

Monet is known for painting 'en plein air' in extreme weather in search for the perfect subject. This resulted in a string of vigorously executed pictures as the sun set behind the houses in the Winter evenings.

Houses Of Parliament, Sunset - 1902

Oil on Canvas

Private Collection

Between 1899-1902 Monet produced nearly 100 views of the Thames River in London. He painted Waterloo Bridge and Charring Cross Bridge from his room at the Savoy Hotel. The series of the Houses Of Parliament were done from St Thomas’s Hospital.

All these paintings were done on identical sizes of canvass, from the same viewpoint, providing a static subject under different lighting conditions. He continued working on the images back in France and sent to London for photographs to help him.

This caused an adverse reaction from the public, Monet is quoted as saying “Whether my Cathedral views or my views of London and other canvasses are painted from life or not is no-bodies business and of no importance what so ever.”

Rocks at Belle-Ile, Port-Dormois - 1886

Oil on Canvas, Framed size 81cm x 63cm

Cincinnati Art Museum

In early 1886 Monet painted 36 seascapes at Belle-Ile, an island off the coast of Brittany. There is no human presense in any of the paintings. He completed them in his studio at Giverny over the next few months.

These paintings astounded the Paris art world when he first exhibited them in 1887.

Monet signed his paintings when completing them with the last colour he was using on his brush.

Storm at the Cote de Belle-Ile - 1886

Oil on Canvas, Framed size 90cm x 78cm

Private Collection

In early 1886 Monet painted 36 seascapes at Belle-Ile, an island off Brittany. There is no human presense in any of the paintings. He completed them in his studio at Giverny over the next few months.

These paintings astounded the Paris art world when he first exhibited them in 1887.

Monet signed his paintings when completed with the last colour he was using on his brush.

Storm on Belle-Ile - 1886

Oil on Canvas, Framed size 94cm x 81cm

Private Collection

In early 1886 Monet painted 36 seascapes at Belle-Ile, an island off Brittany. There is no human presence in any of the paintings. He completed them in his studio at Giverny over the next few months.

These paintings astounded the Paris art world when he first exhibited them in 1887.

Monet signed his paintings when completed with the last colour he was using on his brush.