MONET IN GIVERNY
by Jonathan Hall

Impressionist painter Claude Monet lived and worked for all of his 43 years with the beautiful backdrop of his expansive gardens at his estate in Giverny, France. He believed strongly in the importance of nature and painting outdoors, and many of his works feature the gardens, especially the site's pond with water lilies, or the Japanese bridge and large weeping willow trees. Monet had the nearby Epte River diverted for the garden, and employed up to 10 gardeners full time to its upkeep. 

The Gardens are divided in two distinctive sections, restored with detail to Monet's exact specifications. The Clos-Normand is modeled after Monet's nature inspired artistic vision. He spent years transforming the garden into a living painting, planting thousands of flowers in straight lined patterns. The other section is a water garden, accentuating Monet's fascination for Japan, famously featured in his series of paintings of waterlilies, the Nympheas. The water garden also contains green Japanese bridges and a diverse array of oriental plants.

DETAILS
Fondation Monet in Giverny | 84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France
Photos courtesy of Fondation Monet in Giverny