Claude Monet

Date of Birth: November 14, 1840

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: December 5, 1926

Biography

Oscar-Claude Monet was a French painter and a founder of French Impressionist painting. Born on November 14, 1840, in Paris, Monet is best known for his landscape paintings and his ability to capture natural light in a way that had never been done before. His early interest in art led him to the Académie Suisse and later to the landscape artist Eugène Boudin, who introduced him to plein air painting. Monet’s groundbreaking work, “Impression, Sunrise,” gave the name to the Impressionist movement. Throughout his life, Monet faced financial difficulties and personal tragedies, yet he remained dedicated to his art. His series paintings, such as those of water lilies, haystacks, and the Rouen Cathedral, are celebrated for their vibrant color and innovative approach to capturing changing light and seasons. Monet passed away on December 5, 1926, in Giverny, France, where he spent his final years tending to his garden and painting.

5 Interesting Facts about Claude Monet

1. Monet’s painting “Impression, Sunrise” (1872) is credited with inspiring the name of the Impressionist movement.

2. He was a passionate gardener, and his garden in Giverny became the subject of many of his most famous works, including the water lilies series.

3. Monet struggled with cataracts in his later years, which affected his perception of color and light.

4. He destroyed many of his own paintings that he was dissatisfied with, sometimes burning them.

5. Despite initial criticism, Monet’s work eventually gained widespread acclaim, and he became one of the most financially successful artists of his time.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Claude Monet

1. “I must have flowers, always, and always.”

2. “Color is my day-long obsession, joy, and torment.”

3. “I am following Nature without being able to grasp her… I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”

4. “The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.”

5. “Every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It’s enough to drive one mad.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the time of his death, Monet’s net worth was estimated to be equivalent to around $1.5 million USD in today’s money, considering inflation and the market value of his work.