Monument, moment and memory: Monet's cathedral in fin de siècle France

112 Pages·2007·12.897 MB·English

by  Bucknell University Press.;Bernier, Ronald R.;Monet, Claude

Monument, Moment,
and Memory

Monument, Moment,
and Memory
Monet’s Cathedral in Fin de Sie`cle France
Ronald R. Bernier
Lewisburg
BucknellUniversityPress
©2007byRosemontPublishing&PrintingCorp.
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AssociatedUniversityPresses
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ThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstherequirementsoftheAmerican
NationalStandardforPermanenceofPaperforPrintedLibraryMaterials
Z39.48-1984.
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Bernier,RonaldR.
Monument,moment,andmemory:Monet’scathedralinfindesie`cleFrance/RonaldR.Bernier.
p.cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN-13:978-0-8387-5671-3(alk.paper)
ISBN-10:0-8387-5671-9(alk.paper)
1. Monet, Claude, 1840–1926—Criticism and interpretation. 2. Cathe´drale Notre-Dame (Rouen, France)—In art.
3.Architectureinart. 4.Architectureinliterature. 5.Perception.I.Title.
ND553.M7B472007
759.4—dc22 2006103293
PRINTEDINTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA
Contents
ListofIllustrations 7
Acknowledgments 9
Introduction 13
1. TheStructureofSpontaneity 18
2. CanvasesandCareers 32
3. Depiction,Perception,Memory:TheCriticalResponse 48
4. WritingtheGothic 63
5. ThePoetryofArchitecture 80
Afterword 90
Notes 93
Bibliography 105
Index 111
5

Illustrations
B W
LACK AND HITE
Figure1:ClaudeMonet,LesBainsdelaGrenouillère,1869 29
Figure2:ClaudeMonet,ViewofRouen,1883 33
Figure3:CamillePissarro,L’IleLacroix,Rouen(TheEffectofFog),1888 35
Figure4:CamillePissarro,PontBoieldieuinRouen,DampWeather,1896 36
Figure5:AugusteRodin,LesCathédralesdeFrance,c.1910–14 65
Figure6:AugusteRodin,LesCathédralesdeFrance,c.1910–14 66
C
OLOR
Theseappearafterpage32
Plate1:ClaudeMonet,BoulevarddesCapucines,1873–72
Plate2:ClaudeMonet,Paris,rueSt.Denis:CelebrationofJune30,1878,1878
Plate3:ClaudeMonet,GeneralviewofRouen,1892
Plate4:CamillePissarro,Ruedel’Épicerie,Rouen,1898
Plate5:ClaudeMonet,Ruedel’ÉpicerieàRouen,1892
Plate6:ClaudeMonet,CathedralatRouen(LaCourd’Albane),1892–94
Plate7:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral.HarmonyinBrown,1893–94
Plate8:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral,WestFaçade,Sunlight,1894
Theseappearafterpage64
Plate9:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral:ThePortal(inSun),1894
Plate10:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral,morning,whiteharmony,1894
Plate11:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedralFaçadeandTourd’Albane(MorningEffect),
1894
Plate12:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral,WestFaçade,1894
Plate13:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral,TheFaçadeinSunlight,1894
Plate14:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral,Façade,1894
Plate15:ClaudeMonet,RouenCathedral,morningsun,blueharmony,1893
Plate16:ClaudeMonet,WaterLilies;oiloncanvas;1910.26
7

Acknowledgments
O
VER THE YEARS, A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE GENEROUSLY AIDED ME IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
project.Iwouldliketothankthemfortheirsupport.IamparticularlygratefultoProfessorMichael
Podro for his many readings throughout its long gestation and for his thorough and insightful
comments both on its central arguments and on details of rhetoric; above all, I thank him for his
continued encouragement, counsel, and friendship. I owe a great deal as well to the teaching and
research of professors Podro, Thomas Puttfarken, and Margaret Iversen of Essex University in
Englandwherethisbookbeganasadoctoraldissertation;theirworkhasdonemuchovertheyears
toinformandhonemyownthinkingaboutart.
I also owe a debt of thanks to Greg Clingham, Director, Bucknell University Press, for his
interest and support in seeing this project through. I am also obliged to Bucknell’s reader, who
diligentlyworkedtoimprovemyaccountbyofferingcarefullyconsideredcriticismandsuggestions
for improvement, and to Julien Yoseloff and Beth Anne Stuebe at Associated University Presses
for producing a well-designed book. Thanks also go to Brittany Kramer for her assistance with
indexing. For generously underwriting its beautiful color reproductions—and for his support
overall—I thank Darin E. Fields, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
atWilkesUniversity.
Finally,Imustgivespecialthankstomyparents,RalphL.andTheresaL.Bernier,towhomthis
bookisdedicated;theirsteadfastsupport,encouragement,andfaithhelpedtomaketherealization
ofthisbookpossible.
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