Snappy, incisive introduction to life and later works of one of the
world's most popular artists.
A compact new edition with internet links. Towards the end of his life
and much inspired by Japanese water gardens, Monet spent a great deal of
time in his beloved Giverny. Adorned with poppies, blue sage, dahlias
and irises, the waters were disturbed only by bamboos and water lilies.
His water garden was originally created to satisfy a need to be near
water, and to provide a visual feast that could be enjoyed from his
house. The pond was fed by the river Ru, and weeping willow and silver
birch hung over its edges, caressing the fronds of the greenery and
blossoms below. Its famous green wooden footbridge was built across the
water and it became the central focus of many of his works. He said, 'It
took me some time to understand my water lilies. I planted them for
pleasure.' and so he began to work on what is probably the most famous
series of paintings the world has ever seen.