Monet spent most of the 1870s in the town of Argenteuil, which is on the Seine just to the north-west of Paris. During this period, leisure activities such as boating made the town increasingly popular with day-trippers from the capital. The exceptionally snowy winter of 1874-5 inspired Monet to paint 18 views of Argenteuil under the snow. Many of them, like this work, focus on the boulevard Saint-Denis where Monet was living. The scene shows the boulevard running towards the Seine, looking away from the railway station. It is a relatively large work, which sacrifices details in favour of atmosphere. Its predominantly monochrome palette of blues & greys conveys to perfection the bleakness of an overcast winter's afternoon. ...

Duyster's treatment of the subject is meant to be satirical. These soldiers, who are fighting over the distribution of booty, are dressed in elaborate finery entirely unsuited to the battle field. Willem Duyster was a painter from Amsterdam who specialised in small-scale portraits & genre paintings. Duyster is an adopted surname, a pun on the name of his house ' De Duystere Wereld' (the dark world). ...

Once called ' The Fisherman's Hut', this painting was identified by Robaut as a view of Coubron (close to Paris, on the east, near Le Raincy). According to Robaut it was based on a sketch made early in 1873 at Coubron. In May of that year Corot painted this picture in his studio at Ville-d' Avray. ...

In 1871 Corot left Paris & the upheaval of Commune life to stay with his biographer & friend Alfred Robaut at Douai in north-east France. This is a view of the marshy landscape around Douai. Four other pictures that Corot started on this trip to the Artois are in the National Gallery: ' The Marsh at Arleux', 'A Wagon in the Plains of Artois', ' The Oak in the Valley' & ' Landscape at Arleux-du-Nord'. The present sketch is a copy after a nature study by Alfred Robaut painted in May 1871. It is a close copy except for the cottage which is a detail added by Corot. ...

This picture was formerly attributed to the school of Nicolaes Maes. It has certain similarities with his portraiture but is not by Maes & may not even be Dutch. Instead, it could be the work of a south German or Polish artist working in the Netherlands ...

The Emperor Theodosius (about 346
- 395)
- in armour & a laurel wreath
- is prevented from entering Milan Cathedral by Saint


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This view shows St Paul's Cathedral in the distance, left of centre. The vantage point of the artist was on the south, or Surrey side of the river Thames, between Waterloo Bridge & Blackfriars Bridge. Daubigny first visited London in 1866, returning in 1870-71 to escape the Franco-Prussian war. This painting, dated 1873, was either begun on the spot & finished in the studio, or was worked up from sketches made from the river during this visit. ...

The painter trained with Snijers & even the monkey seems to be based on a model from his teacher. He travelled to Rome & then to Genova where he remained until his death in 1638. The rich display of apples, pears, quinces & peaches are complemented by the suggestive gourds in the right corner. ...

The arrangement

Includes:: oranges, cherries, sheaves of wheat & a snail on the ledge in the left foreground.

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Create your own bespoke print of Willem Claesz. Heda’s Still Life with a Lobster from our collection. About this painting Still Life with a Lobster, 1650-9 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 1947 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...