RomanceEverAfter

The Arts
Impressionism

Claude-Oscar Monet
(1840-1926)

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The French Impressionist painter Claude Monet is an artist that has fascinated and held captive generations of art enthusiasts.  Due to the great interest and vast material available on Monet's life and work, we will be presenting a series of articles on Monet. 

It is our endeavor to expand your knowledge and appreciation of this artist.  We hope by knowing the history and artistic sensibilities of the man, you can more keenly enjoy his work.

A Master is Born

Claude-Oscar Monet was born on November 14, 1840 in Paris.  The Monet families had come to Paris in the late eighteenth century.  Monet was baptized on May 20, 1841 at the local parish church, Notre-Dame-de-Lorette.  The family called him "Oscar" and he signed his paintings and drawings by that name until his early twenties.

The Monet Family Moves to Le Havre

Claude Monet's father decided to move the family to the Norman port of Le Havre.  Monet's father was to work with his brother-in-law's wholesale grocery and ship chandlers.  This allowed Monet to enter the college communal du Havre when he was ten years old in 1850.  As a young student, he studied history, Latin, Greek, math and French grammar.  He also took drawing courses offered by Jacques-Francois Ochard.

Monet's mother passed away on January 28, 1857 and his uncle, who owned the chandlers business, died on September 30, 1858.

In general, little is known of Monet's experience growing up.  Three sketchbooks have survived which evidence his ability to draw.  The earliest of the drawings is dated July 9, 1856.  Dozens of drawings include Normandy Cottage in Ingouville and Study of Trees in Ingouville in addition to over fifty others in his third sketchbook.  Many of the sketches display countryside elements (gardeners, fishermen) and landscapes, which would be evident in his later work.

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Impressionism