This painting probably evolved alongside Monet‰۪s 'grandes d̩corations' in his vast purpose-built studio at Giverny. This bird‰۪s eye view, possibly from the Japanese bridge, shows a winding path near the pool, bordered with lush irises. Monet applied thick purples, blues and greens using bold, even crude strokes. The effects were possibly induced by double cataracts which altered his vision.

This cushion art work is on the National Gallerys extraordinary collection of 19th-century French landscapes, Corot to Monet charts the development of landscape painting from the late 18th century to the year of the first Impressionist exhibition, 1874.