The impressionist masterpiece ‘The Cliff, Etretat, Sunset’ by Monet was being painted at 4.53pm on February 5 1883, academics say. By Sarah Knapton 23 January 2014 • 6:45am .

The pebbled beach at Falaises, on France's Normandy coast, is known as Etretat Plage and its offshore needles and dramatic cliffs inspired the impressionist painters Boudin, Monet and Manet.