Blog | HPRG Léon Monet exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum until 16th July 2023 – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

Léon Monet exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum until 16th July 2023

You may not have heard of Claude Monet’s brother Léon – he was also a painter, as well as an industrialist and art collector, and played an important role in the success of the impressionist movement.

This new exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum (just a few minutes from our hotels), includes major works from Sisley, Pissarro, Renoir, Claude Monet and others, and will help you learn more about a “cordial and frank” man of “sharp, prompt intelligence” and how his collection, advice and work helped many artists to become the star painters of their era.

We wouldn’t go so far as to say that Léon Monet was behind Claude Monet’s success, but he certainly played an important role in promoting impressionism by founding the ‘Société industrielle’ in Rouen, being active in the town’s many cultural associations and collecting works from up-and-coming painters.

The exhibition shows paintings, drawings and photos from Léon Monet’s collection (as well as key works by Claude) and gives an inside look at how things were in the Monet family. The first of Claude Monet’s sketchbooks and his 1874 portrait of his brother are being presented for the first time.

You’ll also learn about a more technical aspect – the creation of new manufacturing techniques that went on to revolutionise fabric printing, showing the Monet family’s fascination for colour.

Léon Monet exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum until 16th July 2023
© Rmn – Grand Palais (musée d’Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski

The cultural events planned around the museum are detailed (in a French PDF) here, including:

— the presentation conference on 23rd March at 6.30pm, given by the exhibition’s curator (four further talks are also being held on other dates)

— four visits with two actors from the La Compagnie du Chapeau de Paille playing Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot as they take you around the exhibition

— a ‘drawing night’ on 18th April from 7-9pm

— a special musical show on Saturday 13th May for Museum Night (from 7.30-11.30pm)

…and other events, visits and workshops. More info here.

Léon Monet exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum until 16th July 2023
© Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts

The museum’s free app (here) gives more detailed information on a handful of the works on show, and allows you to download directly the audioguide (3.99€, available in five languages) with additional info on around twenty works.

The app also includes a ‘sound walk’ by Guido Lusetti that can accompany your visit, available on the website here too.

Léon Monet exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum until 16th July 2023
© collection particulière / © Réunion des musées nationaux – Grand Palais, 2023

And as a handsome souvenir of the exhibition that will allow you to learn even more about Léon Monet, the exhibition’s catalogue (256 pages, 180 illustrations, 39€) has just been published. Available here at your local Amazon.

Léon Monet exhibition at the Luxembourg Museum until 16th July 2023

L’exposition Léon Monet est au Musée du Luxembourg (ici) jusqu’au 16 juillet 2023

Ouvert tous les jours de 10h30 à 19h (22h le lundi). Fermé le 1er mai

Entrée : 14€ / 10€ (ventes en ligne ici). 10€ pour deux personnes de 16-25 ans du lundi au vendredi après 16h. Gratuit pour les moins de 16 ans

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

What3Words ///heavy.backlog.iceberg

French-speakers can check out the full press release below. Click the ‘fullscreen’ button at the bottom right of the image for more comfortable viewing.