Walk in Monet’s Masterpieces ~ Giverny
Lily Pond
“My Garden Is My Most Beautiful Masterpiece” ~ Claude Monet
As one of the founders of Impressionism and one of the most influential art movements in history, Claude Monet’s status as an all-time great is unchallenged.
In 1887 he bought the property in Giverny and began to create the beautiful gardens that were the basis for many of his famous paintings. The radical style of painting the French artist championed, which was based on capturing light and the changing of the seasons rather than accurately replicating scenes from classicism, caused a stir at the time, but also cemented his reputation as one of art history’s innovators.
Even if we are not art lovers many of us are familiar with his paintings since prints make their way to many office walls particularly his paintings of lilies featuring the lily pond that he created with it’s Japanese bridge.
It wasn’t until May 2007 that I was able to make my way to Giverny and walk over the Japanese bridge and through his gardens. For me it was like being in a waking dream.
Water Lilies
Perhaps on a first visit to France there is so much to see and do in Paris itself that many people don’t get the chance to make the trip down. it wasn’t until my third visit to Paris that I was able to finally plan a visit to this beautiful location approximately 50 miles from Paris to walk through the canvases of Monet’s paintings that I had admired for so long.
While there is bus and train coverage to get here we had limited time so we took a half day tour that brought us directly to the property and let us wander around at our leisure and pace.
The Gardens were planted such that there were year round flowers and color.
The house is furnished and maintained as a museum with some of this most famous paintings hanging on the walls and a French farmhouse type atmosphere. We did spend a quick moment walking through the house to admire the antiques and furnishings and also dipped into the gift shop but frankly most of our time was spent in the gardens.
The beautiful splash of color, the balmy weather and the fragrance of flowers accompany you as you walk through a painting.
Walking in the gardens
For Monet the abundant beauty of nature served as his studio. Let your imagination soar and see the artist sitting on the side with his easel capturing all that color and light in his inimitable way.
The Clos Normand sits closest to the house. It consists of a main aisle with flower beds on either side with metal arches spanning the path. Climbing roses grow on these trellises in season.
Inhale, relax, enjoy
“I perhaps owe becoming a painter to flowers.” - Claude Monet
I still enjoy a cup of tea in a beautiful tea mug that I bought in the gift ship there as I reminisce about some of the beautiful destinations I have had the good fortune to see.
Clos Normand in full bloom (not my picture)
“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” - Claude Monet.
En plein air painting or in other words “in the open air” was the foundation for impressionist paintings. The Impressionists needed to be able to start and finish their paintings outdoors to be able to depict what they would later be so famous for – capturing their impression of life. Monet, Renoir, Cezanne are all credited with launching the movement and giving it legitimacy.
I love the fact that this movement spread to California whose beauty lent itself well to “en plein air”. Artists working in this style embraced several key Impressionist interests, including loose brushwork, rich color, and, most of all, a fascination with the effects of sunlight.
Living in Southern California I have many fond memories of haunting local art shows and displays and finding pieces that appeal to me to decorate my home with. I have not been for several years but I enjoyed visiting the Laguna art festival and the pageant of the masters as well. Ah well perhaps that is a topic all in itself someday.