Claude Monet (1840-1926)

Monet, together with the group of French painters of the new wave, such as Renoir, Cezanne, Manet, Pizzaro and others, who eventually came to be known as the Impressionists, had suffered the fate of having his paintings regularly turned down at the annual Salon. They began to paint and exhibit together in around 1870, and Monet’s 1872 painting, "Impression Sunrise” gave the name to their movement. Initially, the Impressionists’ basic philosophy was to start and finish a painting on location, and in one single session. Monet soon realised that following this rule rigidly might limit his artistic development, and he thus began to work more often in the studio, putting some finishing touches to works that he began to paint on location. Many painters, particularly the landscape artists, employ a similar system to this day.

BookSplendour 103 Grandview Road Pullenvale, QLD, Australia 4069, tel. 07-3202 7547