A Monet artwork will be on display at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday, January 17 as part of a partnership with the National Gallery
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery(Image: North East Museums)
A Monet artwork will go on display at a South Shields art gallery in what has been described as a “remarkable opportunity for the North East”. The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) will be on display at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday, January 17, having only left the London gallery once in 20 years.
The museum and gallery is one of four hosting the National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, a three-year programme has already brought renowned art to the North East. Its two previous partnerships were Constable Visits Jarrow in 2023 and National Treasures: Turner in Newcastle at the Laing Art Gallery in 2024, the latter of which saw visitor numbers increase by 50%.
Keith Merrin, director of North East Museums, said: “This is a remarkable opportunity for the North East. Working with the National Gallery – we are not only bringing world-class art to our region for local people to enjoy but we are also using this as an opportunity to develop our creative programmes to support the wellbeing of our South Tyneside community – particularly young people facing mental health challenges.”
Coun Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside Council said that hosting the masterpiece presented an “exceptional chance for our community to encounter one of the world’s most renowned artworks right here on our doorstep.” She added: “It’s an honour for South Tyneside to be part of this national tour, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to share in this extraordinary moment.”
Claude Monet (1840- 1926), The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil, 1872, Oil on canvas(Image: © The National Gallery, London)
Dr Gabriele Finaldi, director of the National Gallery said that the collection “belongs to us all.” He said: “It is part of our duty and our honour to look after these paintings and to bring them to where people are, not just expect them to come to us.
“Partnering on touring exhibitions does so much more than bring beloved paintings from the collection to other places in the UK – it supports the whole country’s cultural ecosystem, connects people with paintings that belong to us all, and allows us to learn and expand our own practices and interpretations through the creativity of our partner organisations and their communities. That over one million people have visited these exhibitions in the last decade proves the desire to engage with our collection is growing, and we look forward to welcoming the next million visitors across the UK.”
The loan of the famous Monet artwork is set to be the centrepiece of a creative programme aimed at supporting young people in South Tyneside experiencing Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA). An increasingly recognised issue both locally and nationally, it affects young people who face significant anxiety and emotional barriers to attending school.
The exhibition will focus on the power of art and nature, exploring themes of calm, retreat and resilience. It is hoped that it will build upon the museum’s recent EBSA pilot project, which used art as a tool for expression.
The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, Monet: In the Presence of Nature, takes place from Saturday, January 17 to Wednesday, March 25. Admission is free.