Water Lilies in Paris

Last summer, Christmas came early when one of the greatest of France's treasures
– Claude Monet's wrap-around panels of the Nymphéas (Water Lilies) at the Musée de l'Orangerie – was been given back to the public, following six years in limbo. The reopening of the museum showcasing this unique attraction represents a kind of Second Coming in the art world, 80 years after Monet, near the end of his days, donated his supreme achievement to the people of France.

Seeing the Water Lilies at the Orangerie is on my to do list. On all my trips to France the Orangerie has been closed for one reason or another, most recently this mammoth renovation. I saw some of the paintings at the Marmottan in Paris and others at Monet's home in Giverny but look forward to seeing them in this magnificent setting.