An exhibition of the works of Claude Monet is always an art event that should not be missed. Until December 27, one may see examples of the artist's work done in this century, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Students of Monet will revel in it, but those who will go to see the wide range of beautiful work created by Monet, may be disappointed.

The artist moved to Giverny, Northwest of Paris in 1883. He developed a fine garden with a Japanese styled bridge and water garden as well as greenhouse. One comes away from the exhibit feeling that he painted many scenes here, hoping to capture one which would be considered a brilliant work. Seeing 24 versions of irises, lilies and other flowers tends to become pedantic. The Water Lily Pond (1900) birds; Water Lily Pond (1900); Symphony in Rose, and The Bridge Over the Water Lily Pond (1900) evidence poor lighting and hardly any dimension. Your writer saw many of the paintings in this exhibit in Philadelphia over 20 years ago and they have not improved with age.

Monet made three trips to London - one can see his impressions of Views from the Thames, cone 1899-1904. They are very hazy, impressionistic. He stated, "Without the fog, London would not be a beautiful city". There are four views of Charing Cross and Waterloo bridges, done by moonlight and sunlight and at dusk.

There are some treats, notably some water lily murals over 18 feet in length done c. 1915-26, from the Galerie Larok-Granoff in Paris - they have never previously been on exhibition.
The first American museum sponsored exhibition of Monet's work during his lifetime, opened at the Museum of Fine Arts in 1911. In 1927, only months after his death, the MFA featured a retrospective of his paintings. An exhibit of his work there in 1990 became the most highly attended exhibition at the museum with 537,502 passing through its doors to see it.

As a local note, the painting which many scholars regard as Monet's finest in the world is The Seine at Bougival, which hangs at the Currier Gallery of Art in Manchester, NH. It has been loaned several times to the Louvre for retrospective exhibits. Your writer has seen the Monets at the Hermitage, the Louvre, National Gallery in London, and at the major museums in this country - one can see the best, right in Manchester, NH.

One should see the Monet exhibit in Boston. It reveals the artist's changing style from one which exhibited the best in impressionism to one which features very heavy brush strokes. You may order tickets by touch-tone phone, 617-542-4MFA.