Claude Monet was born on November 28, 1840 in Paris France. In 1845 his family moved to Le Havre in Normandy. During this time his father wanted him to take on the family business of owning a grocery store but Monet wanted to be an artist. On April 1st, 1851 he went into the secondary art school of Le Havre, where he had his first drawing lesson. While he was in this school he was mentored by Eugene Boulden, who taught him the method “ en plein air” or outdoor techniques of drawing and painting. In 1857, his mother, who supported him in his love for the arts died and he went to live with his aunt. Monet would later in 1861 join the the First Regiment of African Light Cavalry and was supposed to be in it for several years but two years into it he became ill and his aunt was very concerned for his health. His aunt made a deal with him that if he left the Cavalry she would let him go into any art class he would like. Around the 1860s Monet along with many other artist were looked down upon by art exhibition because it did not mix well with what they already had. Because of this Claude and many of the other artist came together to make the first Impressionist exhibition. This is where he first presented his painting “Impression, sunrise,” which gave the artform its name. Later in his life Monets second wife, Alice, died and her daughter Blanche began to take care of him. In his old age his sight began to fade and caused many problems for his art. Also in his last years he would paint willow trees for all the soldiers that had died in the many wars before. He died December 5, 1926 at the age of 86.
|