My heart leapt when I saw the subject of today’s post, George! Monet’s work is always a tonic to my soul and a delight to my eyes. Much needed today as I’m in Texas currently and it’s snowing. The budding daffodils outside my window are bent with ice; I needed to read about and relish Monet’s sumptuous garden and flowers. Thank you, thank you.
I'm so glad to know this article reached you at the necessary time, Melanie. I mus tadmit, Monet's work has that kind of calming quality more than almost any other artist that I can think of. So I hope you will enjoy spending any more time with these paintings today if they help as an antidote to the cold of Texas!
"Thus, what started as a family home, eventually came to be more like a living tribute to Monet’s artistic soul." -- Well said! I hadn't know he was a gardener before reading this, much less that he was THE gardener behind Giverny. Your writing here brings Monet nearer to the hearts of people everywhere who love digging and planting in the soil.
Yes, not many people know Monet was the designer of Giverny as much as the painter. But I feel like that adds a real personal touch to the paintings too. He is showing us the beauty in his garden - but also, that he was proud of it too!
Every time I go to the Art Institute of Chicago, which is about once a month, I marvel at Monet. His innate understanding of value makes color almost superfluous. AIC has a decent number of Monets, including four seasons of haystack paintings, which are among the most remarkable in their entire collection. It's always a delight to compare them to one another.
That's really cool. I've never been to Chicago, but every time I am made aware of other works in their collection it makes me really keen to get there at some point. So you're lucky to have the chance to visit so often and spend time with those works.
I feel so lucky to have grown up in the Chicago area and to have had an art teacher that gave us on site “assignments” to visit and write about what we saw at the Art Institute. Only later did I realize how formative and precious that experience was. It is wonderful that you are able to get there once a month.
I didn't know any of this, which explains, of course, the reason I've subscribed. Your account helps so much to appreciate the beautiful art... Thank you.
I have a reprint of The Iris Garden painting in today's feature. Our old house had a nook, like for an icon; except it was more likely for the original telephone. That is where we had the Monet print.
Lovely article, George! What a dream on this cold winter's day. I really do think it speaks to how art can transcend typical media like drawing and painting. The garden is a masterpiece!
Thanks Nicole. You are so right - art is inclusive of so many different mediums. And I always love when someone manages to combine their passions so successfully.
Yes, it is a lovely place. I was there about 7 years ago, and although it was at the end of summer, and plenty of the flowers were dying off, the grounds were spectacular to behold. Would definitely like to visit again. Thanks for a wonderful post.
That's really cool to know you visited Giverny! I'm sure it has a different kind of beauty at every stage of the year - and hopefully you will have the chance to return again one day. Thanks for reading.
As ever a great piece and did you catch ‘Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse’ exhibition at the RA back in 2016, George? Beginning with Monet it was a marvellous exploration on how gardens played a role in the evolution of art through to the 1920s.
My heart leapt when I saw the subject of today’s post, George! Monet’s work is always a tonic to my soul and a delight to my eyes. Much needed today as I’m in Texas currently and it’s snowing. The budding daffodils outside my window are bent with ice; I needed to read about and relish Monet’s sumptuous garden and flowers. Thank you, thank you.
I'm so glad to know this article reached you at the necessary time, Melanie. I mus tadmit, Monet's work has that kind of calming quality more than almost any other artist that I can think of. So I hope you will enjoy spending any more time with these paintings today if they help as an antidote to the cold of Texas!
Just Beautiful. And matched by a beautiful story.
Thanks a lot. Glad to know you enjoyed it.
I hope so much to see this one day. Thank goodness for the two who saved this precious wonder of the world!
Like you, I knew the works from the Art Institute.. It is wonderful to learn the story of how they came to be.
"Thus, what started as a family home, eventually came to be more like a living tribute to Monet’s artistic soul." -- Well said! I hadn't know he was a gardener before reading this, much less that he was THE gardener behind Giverny. Your writing here brings Monet nearer to the hearts of people everywhere who love digging and planting in the soil.
Yes, not many people know Monet was the designer of Giverny as much as the painter. But I feel like that adds a real personal touch to the paintings too. He is showing us the beauty in his garden - but also, that he was proud of it too!
Every time I go to the Art Institute of Chicago, which is about once a month, I marvel at Monet. His innate understanding of value makes color almost superfluous. AIC has a decent number of Monets, including four seasons of haystack paintings, which are among the most remarkable in their entire collection. It's always a delight to compare them to one another.
That's really cool. I've never been to Chicago, but every time I am made aware of other works in their collection it makes me really keen to get there at some point. So you're lucky to have the chance to visit so often and spend time with those works.
I feel so lucky to have grown up in the Chicago area and to have had an art teacher that gave us on site “assignments” to visit and write about what we saw at the Art Institute. Only later did I realize how formative and precious that experience was. It is wonderful that you are able to get there once a month.
Yes they have a remarkable collection!
I didn't know any of this, which explains, of course, the reason I've subscribed. Your account helps so much to appreciate the beautiful art... Thank you.
I’m really glad to know you’re enjoying my articles, Robert. Thanks a lot for your kind words.
Absolutely love Monet!! And I shared your post. I do have a Monet painting. But believe it may be a reprint. Still love it no matter what ❤️❤️
I have a reprint of The Iris Garden painting in today's feature. Our old house had a nook, like for an icon; except it was more likely for the original telephone. That is where we had the Monet print.
That’s great place for the picture. Ours is the one with the person fishing by the bridge. It hung in kitchen for a long time.
Lovely article, George! What a dream on this cold winter's day. I really do think it speaks to how art can transcend typical media like drawing and painting. The garden is a masterpiece!
Thanks Nicole. You are so right - art is inclusive of so many different mediums. And I always love when someone manages to combine their passions so successfully.
Yes, it is a lovely place. I was there about 7 years ago, and although it was at the end of summer, and plenty of the flowers were dying off, the grounds were spectacular to behold. Would definitely like to visit again. Thanks for a wonderful post.
That's really cool to know you visited Giverny! I'm sure it has a different kind of beauty at every stage of the year - and hopefully you will have the chance to return again one day. Thanks for reading.
So beautiful. A pleasant calm for these times. Thank you, George.
I hope to visit one day! ✨
I'll meet you there! :)
Monet's mastery of light inspires my photography. Now that Notre Dame is reopened I need to stop putting off that trip to France!
That's really cool. I'm sure a trip to France would be an absolute joy for you as a photographer too.
Amazing how much life Monet brought to those scenes...it's coming off the page!
Absolutely. He captures an atmosphere that many artists would not have even seen.
As ever a great piece and did you catch ‘Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse’ exhibition at the RA back in 2016, George? Beginning with Monet it was a marvellous exploration on how gardens played a role in the evolution of art through to the 1920s.
Thanks Harry. No, I didn’t know about that RA exhibition - but would have definitely wanted to see it if only it were a current show!
I saved to savour this article, George. Thank you. One of my favourite Sunday afternoon treats when I lived in Basel, Switzerland was to go to the Fondation Beyeler and sit in front of the Le bassin aux nymphéas, (ca. 1917-1920) https://www.fondationbeyeler.ch/en/beyeler-collection/work?tx_wmdbbasefbey_pi5%5Bartwork%5D=126&cHash=8ba3cc1435c1d7f16899565079c31026
It's breathtaking.
How beautiful! I learned a lot, thank you!