Famous for his ability to capture variations of light and atmosphere, Claude Monet (1840–1926) helped introduce Mediterranean landscapes into the history of Impressionism. In the early 1880s, seeking a different light and stronger contrasts than those of the Norman landscapes he was accustomed to painting, Monet travelled along the Riviera. Enchanted by the vegetation and vivid colours, he produced several paintings in the surroundings of Menton, Monte-Carlo and Bordighera, including the work depicted on the stamp, Monte-Carlo Seen from Roquebrune (1884), which belongs to the Prince of Monaco’s collection.
