Artist in Focus - Claude Monet

Monet was born in Paris in 1840 but his family settled in Le Havre shortly afterwards. It was in Le Havre that Monet developed a love of drawing and where he became established as an artist.

Monet met Boudin and Pissarro before completing a year’s military service in 1861. He was incredibly fortunate that his father recognised his artistic talents, brought him out of the army and sent him to study in Paris. Four years later he held his first exhibition at the Paris Salon. Monet also met Renoir, Bazille and Sisley, and established a friendship with Manet.

The 1870s saw a period of peaceful home life with his wife and children whilst Monet contributed to the first Impressionist exhibition. This tranquillity was shattered by his wife Camille Doncieux’s death in 1879. Monet then spent the next decade travelling and painting and by the 1890s he had settled in Giverny. Monet had also begun the construction of a water garden near his house.

The turn of the century saw the famous Lily Pond and the Water Lily series exhibited.


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