Medium and Dimensions

The painting is executed in oil on canvas and measures 37.7 cm by 46 cm (14 13/16 by 18 1/8 inches).

Provenance

The painting has a rich provenance, having been owned by several notable collectors. It was initially owned by Ernest Hoschedé, then sold at various auctions, including the Hoschedé sale in 1878 and the Dachery sale in 1899. It later belonged to Ernest Cognacq and his grand-nephew Gabriel Cognacq. The painting was acquired by Ailsa Mellon Bruce in 1955 and was bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1970.

Inscription

The painting is signed by Claude Monet in the lower left corner.

Exhibition History

Ships Riding on the Seine at Rouen has been exhibited in numerous significant exhibitions. Some notable exhibitions include: 'Exposition du Centenaire Monet-Rodin' at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris in 1940, 'French Paintings of the Nineteenth Century from the Collection of Mrs. Mellon Bruce' at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco in 1961, 'Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art' at the State Hermitage Museum in Leningrad and the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow in 1986, 'Monet in Normandy' at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor and other locations in 2006-2007, and 'Monet and the Seine: Impressions of a River' at the Philbrook Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 2014-2015.

Style and Context

The painting reflects Monet's early Impressionist style, characterized by his focus on capturing the effects of light and the everyday scenes of modern life. Monet's method of painting the same scene multiple times to document the changing light is evident in this work, which is part of his broader ambition to document the French countryside and urban landscapes.