CLAUDE MONET

Father of Impressionism

MONET1840-1926

Early Years

Middle Years

Late years

Royal Academy

Claude Monet

• Born in Paris on November 14, 1840.• His father was a wealthy store owner.• He had independent views even as a child.• Refused to go to the Academy of Fine Art.• Served in the military from 1860-1861.• Attended the Academie Suisse.• His friend, Eugene Boudin, encouraged his art.

Claude Monet- early years

Claude Monet began making

money as a student by selling

caricatures of people he knew.

Claude Oscar, Monet , 1858

Monet painted

realistic still-lifes in order

to get into art school.

Still Life with Pheasant, Monet, 1861

Claude Monet- middle years• In 1869, Monet painted Le Grenoillère- his first

Impressionist painting.• In 1870, he married his model- Camille Doncieux.• In 1874, Monet and his friends hold their own art

exhibit as “Impressionists”.• Monet was poor and was supported by his father.• Two sons are born to Monet: Jean in 1868 and

Michael in 1879.• In 1879, his wife Camille dies.

The Reader, Monet 1872This is a painting Monet made of his wife Camille.

Portrait of Jean Monet, Monet, 1880

Monet’s oldest son, Jean.

Monet’s first Impressionist painting:

Le Grenoillère, Monet, 1869

Impression: Sunrise, Monet 1864

The term “Impressionism” came from this painting.

Giverny- Monet’s home

• Monet moved to Giverny in 1883.• He rented it on the spot!• He was poor when he moved here, but became

wealthy.• Monet turned it into a massive garden.• Hired 7 full-time gardeners.• Imported plants from Japan and built a bridge.• You can still visit it today!

Giverny- Monet’s home

Giverny- Monet’s home

JAPANESE BRIDGE AT GIVERNY

Water-Lily Pond, Claude Monet 1899

Claude Monet- later years

• Sold many paintings and became famous toward the end of his life.

• Began painting his water lilies series.• Married Alice Hoschede , a long-time friend, in 1892 (she had 6 children).• Alice died in 1911.• Painted a series of giant water lilies for the

French government in 1916.• Died in 1927.

• Monet painted outside- even on a boat!• Was interested in catching light and color.• Painted the same things at different times of

day to capture light and shadow.• Painted haystacks, buildings, waterlilies.• Started out painting people.• Next, he combined people in a landscape.• Finally, he painted only landscapes.

Subject Matter (what Monet painted)

• Grainstacks in the Sunlight, Morning Effect, Claude Monet 1890,

Grainstack at Sunset, Claude Monet 1890

Haystacks

Rouen Cathedral, Harmony in Brown,

Monet 1892

Rouen Cathedral, Morning Effect, Monet

1893

ROUEN CATHEDRAL

Water-Lilies, Evening Effect, Claude Monet 1897-1899

Water-Lilies, Claude Monet 1905

Water-Lilies, Claude Monet 1914

This is what other artists were

painting.

This is what the Impressionists were

painting.

• Art academy in Paris.• Told artist HOW to paint:– Realism (like a photograph).

• Told artists WHAT to paint – Important people.– Historical outdoor scenes. – Bible scenes.

• Held an annual art show (the Salon)starting in 1667.– If your art was accepted- you would have a career.– If your art was rejected- your career was over!

THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS

• Only French people could exhibit.• In 1863, high number of Impressionists

entered.• The Impressionist’s work was rejected.• Napoleon III held a Salon des Refuges for

all rejected paintings.• After the avant garde show, the academy

was taken down.

The Grand Palais, Paris 1913The Royal Academy of Art

The Gleaners, Jean-Francois Millet, 1857 Louis du Boucher Marquis and

his Family, Francis Drouais, 1750

Which is Salon worthy?

RPeasants are not a worthy

subject for a painting.

Louis du Boucher Marquis and his Family, Francis Drouais, 1750

WINNER!

Rich or royal people are salon worthy!

The Tiberian Island in Rome, Vanvitelli 1685

Which is Salon worthy?

Water-Lily Pond, Claude Monet 1899

WINNER!

The Tiberian Island in Rome, Vanvitelli 1685

History landscapes are salon worthy!

Water-Lily Pond, Claude Monet 1899

Water lilies are NOT a worthy subject for a painting.

R

Old Man, Georges de La Tour, c.1618-19

The Tears of St. Peter, Georges de La Tour, 1646

Which is Salon worthy?

Old Man, Georges de La Tour, c.1618-19

RAn old man is NOT a worthy subject for a

painting.

WINNER!

The Tears of St. Peter, Georges de La Tour, 1646

Scenes from the Bible are salon worthy!