Claude Monet, forger of French impressionism - and artist of choice amongst college girls everywhere, will have over 60 of his masterpieces on view at the Wildenstein & Co. gallery starting tomorrow (and running through June 15th).
According to AM New York, the paintings are on loan from approximately 20 different museums and 40 private collections - making this the largest retrospective of Monet's work in New York in over 30 years. Three works from the private collections will be exhibited in public for the first time, including "Villas at Bordighera", which he painted in 1884 during a secret trip to the Mediterranean where he worked on his impressionist style.
Adding another dimension to the show, the paintings will be exhibited alongside Monet family photographs and letters (late last year some of Monet's letters were sold at auction for $1.7M). This show has been in the works for nearly two years, curated by Joseph Baillio and organized by Guy Wildenstein in honor of his late father, Daniel, who authored a number of books on the artist.
With 175 visitors allowed in at one time, be ready to wait around a bit. Proceeds from ticket sales go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and cost $10 for adults, $5 for students.
Related: What's the tritest college dorm room art? Van Gogh's Starry Night, Monet's Waterlilies, Munch's the Scream.
Photo of Waterlilies at MoMA via onwatersedge's flickr.
