YUAG receives $7 million Monet painting from alum

By Melissa DePetris

COURTESY ISABEL.COM YUAG's latest acquisition--valued at $7 million--features Monet's wife, Camille.

"We are thrilled to receive this piece, particularly because it is an important early Monet work," Joachim Pissarro, YUAG curator and relative of Camille Pissarro, said. This acquisition will greatly enhance the gallery's holdings, which include three other Monet paintings, all gifts of Paul Mellon, Class of 1929.

Mrs. Whitney chose to donate the Monet painting to YUAG because her late husband, John Hay Whitney was a dedicated alumnus. He had demonstrated an appreciation for Yale's art collection by donating six paintings from his estate to YUAG in 1982.

The painting itself is from a pivotal point in Monet's career. Camille sur la plage à Trouville was the first of Monet's plein air series, characterized by lavish colors and a delicate overall appearance. Eugene Boudin, an acquaintance of the family, was considered to be the impetus behind Monet's transition to a freer, looser style, as well as his transition from working in a studio.

This approach inspired Monet's early Impressionist works of the 1870s. Later, he refined his technique further to produce his more famous works, including the 1887 Port-Donnant, Belle Isle, and ultimately, The Artist's Garden at Giverny, all seminal works of the Impressionist movement.

"Not only will this addition...enhance our present collection, but it also has important implications for teachers and students of art history," Pissarro explained. "The plein air series was a critical moment in the artist's career and was not previously represented in our holdings. It is wonderful to own part of the group that created a new conception of painting, one that was more closely linked to nature and the outdoors," Pissarro said.

Although Pissarro has not yet seen the painting, President Richard Levin, GRD '74, has. "It is a magnificent painting that I had the privilege of viewing in Mrs. Whitney's home," he said. "It is a wonderful addition to our collection and it will take its place as a masterpiece in the gallery."

Due to standard legal procedures, other members of the Yale community will have to wait until next year to view Camille sur la plage à Trouville, Helen Cooper, the acting director of YUAG, said.

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