Seaside Impressionists

The Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly has a new exhibition starting this week called Impressionists by the Sea. Its on from 7 July—30 Sept 2007 in the academy’s Sackler Wing of Galleries and looks at the development of the contemporary beach scene in the mid-19th century in the paintings of Monet, Manet and Eugene Boudin.

The paintings also chart the rise of the seaside holiday in France as from early in that century the northern coast of France become popular with Parisian holidaymakers especially when seawater became as fashionable for having recuperative and restorative values as fresh water spas, this in turn attracted artists who wanted to capture the scene. Tickets for Impressionists by the Sea are £8 and the Royal Academy of Arts is open daily from 10am-6pm (Fri 10pm). Its located in Burlington House on Piccadilly, about halfway between Green Park and Piccadilly Circus Underground stations.