San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk (Saint-Georges majeur au crépuscule)
Oil painting on canvas, landscape format • Claude Monet
Style & Movement
Impressionism / Post-Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing Impressionist broken brushwork, rapid application of vibrant chromatic colors, and optical color mixing to capture atmospheric light and transient effects.
Creation Period
1908
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 65.2 cm x 92.4 cm (25.7 in x 36.4 in), horizontal landscape format
Subject Description
The painting depicts the island church of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice silhouetted against a brilliant, fiery sunset. The composition focuses heavily on atmospheric effects, vibrant interplay of warm oranges and cool blues in the sky and water, and the dramatic reflection of the silhouetted architecture upon the Venetian lagoon.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good condition overall based on visual analysis from known museum-held versions; typical age-related craquelure standard for early 20th-century oil paintings.
Estimated Market Value
Incalculable/Museum Collection (Comparable masterworks by Monet from the Venice series have commanded tens of millions to over $50 million at private sale).
Auction Estimate
$30,000,000 - $50,000,000+
Provenance History
Originally retained by the artist, passed through various European and American galleries and private collections, ultimately entering a major museum permanent collection (National Museum of Wales, Cardiff).
Art Historical Significance
Part of Claude Monet's celebrated Venice series painted during his 1908 trip. This series represents the pinnacle of his late style, focusing purely on light, color, and atmosphere rather than topographical precision, heavily influencing modern abstraction.
Notable Features
Masterful use of complementary colors (orange and blue) to create luminous intensity, capturing the fleeting, magical moment of dusk in Venice.
Condition Issues
Potential surface dust, minor varnish yellowing, and faint stabilizing craquelure consistent with age, requiring controlled museum environments.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable museum-grade climate control (50% RH, 20°C), UV-filtered LED lighting, and periodic surface dusting by a professional conservator.