The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour. Monet: In the Presence of Nature
A rare chance to see a Claude Monet masterpiece painting in South Shields.
Historic Event
This is a historic event or exhibition. It is no longer available to visit and this page is only retained as a record of its details.
Visit our What's On page for current and future event and exhibition details.
Dates
Until 25 March 2026 (historic event)
About
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery has been selected as one of just four partners to host the National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, a three-year transformative opportunity to bring world-class art to the North East.
From now until Wednesday 25 March the museum will exhibit Monet’s masterpiece, The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872), which has only left the National Gallery once in the past 20 years.
The painting is displayed in the museum's art gallery space, complemented by works from the South Shields, Laing and Shipley art collections, and artworks co-created by EBSA young people, teachers, and local organisations.
The exhibition focuses on the power of art and nature, exploring themes of calm, retreat, and resilience.
Exhibition films
Wellness Weekends at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Every Saturday, from Saturday 24 January until Saturday 21 March 2026, visitors are invited to enjoy free ‘Wellness Weekends’ at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, designed to encourage mindfulness and relaxation through art, to celebrate the arrival of Monet's The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872), as part of the National Gallery's Masterpiece Tour.
Partners and Funders
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Image credit: Claude Monet (1840-1926), The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil, 1872, Oil on canvas © The National Gallery, London.
