FREE ESSAY ON MONET

MONET

Over the years there have been many respectable artists but one of the most famous of
these artists would have to have been French impressionist Claude Oscar Monet.
Monet was born on Nov. 14, 1840 in Paris, France and started showing an appreciation for
art at an early age. When he was nineteen Monet decided that he wanted to attend art
school and soon after that he entered the studio of Charles Glegre. While he was there he
met and worked with other respectable artists such as Frederic Bazille, Auguset Renoir,
and Alfred Sisley.
Monet began working outside with the invention of portable tubes of oil paint in the
1840's. Soon he began presenting his pictures of the outdoors sunlight with a direct
sketch-like application of bright color. Many felt that would cut off any possibilities
of him ever becoming a successful painter. Many of Monet's paintings from this time are
extremely loosely structured and the colors seemed to have been applied in strong,
distinct strokes as if no 
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reworking had been attempted. This type of art seemed to suggest that the artist had
captured the spontaneous impression of nature. This along with the fact that one of
Monet's first paintings was entitled Impression: Sunrise, the press began to label Monet
and his colleagues the impressionists.
In the early 1870's Monet and other Impressionists were in desperate need to sell some
paintings so in 1874 they decided to appeal directly to the public and had the first of
many Impressionist exhibitions. The shows lasted a month and although it drew a large
crowd not many paintings were actually sold.
As the years progressed so did Monet's technique. By the mid-1880's he had achieved much
recognition and he was also, finally, financially secure. At the fourth 
Impressionist exhibition in 1879, which took place in Paris, there was a huge turnout and
for the time a profit was made. Although a profit had been made Monet decided not to
display his work in the fifth Impressionist exhibition and instead he submitted two of
his works to the Salon. After this move business picked up for Monet. The owner of the
Salon, Georges Petit, purchased three of his 
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paintings and in 1880 he had his first one-man show. One year later Durand-Ruel signed a
contract with Monet, which 
committed him to purchase a large number of paintings at regular intervals. After this
Monet was able to create better paintings and he was also able to travel in search of
scenes to paint.
By 1890 Monet was finally able to purchase the house he had been renting for seven years
and there he created a lily pond which included a Japanese bridge and was overhung with
clumps of bamboo and willows. From this pond he began painting some of his most famous
works. Although Monet's eyesight was growing worse he still continued working on his
water lily series and at the same time some of his other series works such as the
haystacks, poplars, Rouen Cathedral, and the Seine River. Monet remained at his house in
Giverny, traveling sometimes to find new scenes to paint, until his death in 1926.
Monet's artwork is some of the most desirable in the world and although it went through
many different stages it is all still amazing. Although some artists of his time accused
him of mass-producing art (his series work) just for commercial purposes many artists new
feel that being able to make a series of a scene and still have all of the pieces have
there own individuality and be so desirable was one of his greatest talents.