Claude Monet revolutionized the way art was produced in the 19th century. By taking his
canvases out of the studio and painting "en plein air", he captured the nuances of light and
color only nature could offer.
Born in Paris, Monet attended Acad‚mie Suisse in Paris with Pissaro from 1859-60 and
subsequently enrolled in Charles Gleyre's studio in 1862 painting alongside Renoir and Sisley.
As a founding member of the Impressionist movement, Monet worked to organize the
first Impressionist exhibition in 1874. The term Impressionist was coined from his work
"Impression: The Rising Sun."
In 1883 the artist moved to Giverny, planting the extensive gardens and lily ponds
which would provide the inspiration for his later works. While at Giverny, Monet began a series
of large scale paintings of water lilies, the works for which he is best remembered. Capturing
the play of dappled light and shimmering, opalescent color of the lilies, these timeless works
continue to captivate and enthrall audiences nearly a century later.
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