Emile Claus

The painting’s subject and mood are as arresting as its provenance is compelling. The view from the Embankment towards Waterloo Bridge and the Houses of Parliament is not only a tour de force of impressionist painting but a fascinating document of London’s riverscape in 1918. The orb of the late afternoon winter sun pierces the misty sky, illuminating it with its hazy orange aura and backlighting the Westminster skyline and bridges, casting them in deep blue shadow. In pride of place is the old nine-arch granite bridge designed by John Rennie and opened in 1817, since replaced by the current bridge completed in 1945. On the left of the composition stands the shot factory with its landmark tower, now occupied by the National Theatre.

Like Claude Monet who sought exile in London during the Franco-Prussian War, Claus, together with several of his Belgian artist compatriots, moved to England at the outbreak of the First World War. Settling first in Rhubina in Wales, he returned to London in 1915 and painted Kew, Upton Grey, and Hampstead. But it wasn’t until 1916 that he found a subject he felt truly worthy of painting: the Thames. He took a studio on the fourth floor of Mowbray House on the corner of the former Norfolk Street and the Embankment at Temple, and from here painted a series of views which he titled Réverbérations sur la Tamise. 

In his article, ‘The Thames from my Tower Windows’, published by The Studio in May 1917, Claus described his view as follows: ‘on my left is Blackfriars Bridge; to the right, I see Waterloo Bridge and the silhouette of Westminster. These are the views which, day after day these past months, have provided me with varying and ravishing impressions of the River.’ His acknowledged inspirations were the works of Turner, but they clearly echo the work of his contemporary Claude Monet, who painted similar views from his room at the nearby Savoy Hotel (fig. 1).  While the latter’s Thames views were almost abstract in feel, Claus never completely abandoned verisimiltude, with buildings, boats, and figures still clearly recognisable. Close inspection of the present work even reveals the rigorous line drawing underpinning the composition.

His exploring days over, de Gerlache immersed himself in artistic pursuits, in particular in promoting Belgian art in the Nordic capitals, including in Christiana (modern-day Oslo). Johan de Smet believes it is likely that de Gerlache received the present work from Claus as a gift, in recognition of the sale of one of his works at an exhibition that de Gerlache organised, and which de Gerlache mentions in a letter to Claus, dated 6 August 1919: ‘My wife and I are more enchanted by the day by your admirable effet de brume (impression of mist) on the Thames. And I would like to seize this occasion to thank you again from all my heart.’ (translated from the French, Archives d’art contemporain. MRBAB, Bruxelles).


This view of Waterloo Bridge is very characteristic of Emile Claus's London views, when he took refuge in the city during World War I. During this time he painted many views of the Thames and the Embankment at different times of the day.  Like Monet, whom he had met in Paris in the late 1880s, Claus abandoned academic naturalism in favour of plein air painting and his work became preoccupied with the rendering of atmosphere and light. In the present work Claus captures the effects of the sun rise through the famous London smog, the 'pea souper', from his position above Victoria Embankment. This painting may be compared to Waterloo Bridge in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Brussels.