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Friends of Claude Monet Discussion:
Art Appreciation
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January 26, 2009 at 9:38:31 AM #1
Discussions: 7
Joined: 11/29/2008
Location: Los Angeles
This is an invitation to all who would like to discuss Claude Monet's art and life.

I think this would be a great venue to share and discuss his paintings from your art museum and private collection experiences. 

Come join and share your thoughts on Impressionism.
Edited by MarieSager About 9 months ago.
January 26, 2009 at 5:20:10 PM #2
Discussions: 26
Joined: 1/4/2008
Location: California
Posted in reply to Marie Sager's post
This is a great idea, Marie.  I love Monet's paintings.  Several years ago, I visited his house and gardens in Giverny with my daughter.  It was truly a magical experience.  I loved his house because it was so colorful and cozy.    And I especially liked the path that took you from his house, through the beautiful flower garden to the lily ponds.  You could see how this kind of beauty would inspire an artist. 
January 27, 2009 at 8:15:57 AM #3
Discussions: 7
Joined: 11/29/2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posted in reply to Groecar's post
Visiting Monet's house is on my "To Do List", hopefully being very soon in the future.  I have the book "Monet's House an Impressionist Interior" by Heide Michels and Photography by Guy Bouchet, who by the way did a tremendous job.  He's a French photographer living in Paris.  The photographer makes Monet's house and grounds look so inviting.
No matter where my travels have taken me, I always have to stop at the Art Museum and visit the Impressionist Gallery.  When I worked in New York City on Park Avenue, right across from my office was Christy's Auction House (at the time) and I would get to see the display of Monet's paintings offered for sale by private collectors.  I found that to be a high point in my art appreciation quest and only wish I would of noted the paintings at the time as I know they will not be viewed by the public again.
Thanks for joining Carol and I appreciate and enjoy your pictures.  Marie

Edited by MarieSager About 9 months ago.
January 27, 2009 at 1:53:54 PM #4
Discussions: 26
Joined: 1/4/2008
Location: California
Posted in reply to Marie Sager's post
Hi Marie.  That must have been so neat to see some of Monet's paintings at Christie's.  The book you mentioned sounds really interesting.  I would love to see pictures of the interior of his house.  The kitchen was very cheerful with bright yellow walls and lots of blue.  Just the kind of room you would expect from an artist.  And his upstairs bedroom had a wonderful view of the garden.  Ah, my dream house.  :)
January 27, 2009 at 10:27:27 PM #5
Discussions: 7
Joined: 11/29/2008
Location: Los Angeles
I want to thank Ann for the picture taken at the l'Orangerie in Paris, actually a hop, skip and a jump from the Louvre if I remember correctly.   I stumbled across it purely by accident as I had planned to go to the Musee d'Orsay only to learn they were on strike.  The l'Orangerie was a simple little building and I seriously had no idea the surprise that was in store for me.  I entered the museum and followed the signs to an oval room and I found myself surrounded by Monet's Water Lilies with a panoramic view.  He was so ahead of his time.  I didn't want to leave because it was so unbelievable, but I was on a schedule so had to move on.  I was searching for an exit only to find yet another oval room with the same panoramic display.  The paintings were Two Weeping Willows and Morning with Weeping Willows.  The reason I share the names of the later is because it was so appropriate as I quickly found the seat in the middle of the oval room and sat down and wept.  I usually don't like to admit those things, but I was overwhelmed with the beauty and amount of work by Monet, that my emotions gave way.  This was truly the highlight of my trip to Paris and hopefully will return someday.
Georges Clemenceau who was at Claude Monet's side when he passed away, once expressed Monet in these words:
His inspiredly daring eye, ablaze with the glow of nature's flames, crazed with the world's wonders to the extent that he gambled all his lifetime's ambitions on a stroke of a brush as death hovered in the wings...
Thank you Ann again for sharing this picture and bringing back memories of Paris.  Marie
Edited by MarieSager About 9 months ago.
January 27, 2009 at 10:41:02 PM #6
Discussions: 7
Joined: 11/29/2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posted in reply to Groecar's post
Carol, I highly recommend the book that I suggested regarding Monet's house.  Especially since you've been to Giverny.  The colors in the book are eye popping.  I never tire of it.  The photographer did a super job capturing the color of the rooms, the bright yellows, blues and greens.  Again, thank you for the beautiful pictures.  Marie
Edited by MarieSager About 9 months ago.
January 28, 2009 at 1:47:33 PM #7
Discussions: 6
Joined: 12/7/2007
Location: Livonia, MI
Thank you, Marie, for your story about your visit to l'Orangerie.  I very much understand your response.  That was high on my to-do list on my first trip to Paris, when I was disappointed to discover that the museum was closed for renovations.  So I figured I would probably never get to see Monet's waterlilies.  I would just have to live with the fact. 

Then in the fall of 2007 my sister-in-law and I decided on a trip, and I was delighted to find that the place she most wanted to go was Paris.  No objections from me!  It was then that I took the two photos which I have submitted to this group.  Monet's huge paintings are simply superb, as is the rest of  l'Orangerie and Musee d'Orsay. 

Marie, have you been able to visit the Orsay on a subsequent trip?  I hope so.  Not only is the art there wonderful, but the old rail station-turned-museum is most fascinating in itself.  I fell in love with the three huge clocks there, which look out on the city.  Besides providing lots to think about, the clocks, for me, made intriguing images for photography, thinking, and writing (journaling, from which came a bit of poetry).  

Carol, thanks for the lovely glimpses of Giverny, colorful both in image and word.  That is a place which still remains on my wish list.
Ann
Edited by annhorn About 9 months ago.
February 01, 2009 at 5:34:04 PM #8
Discussions: 7
Joined: 11/29/2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posted in reply to annhorn's post
Ann,
The Orsay is on top of my "Must See" list.  No matter what city I'm in I head for the Art Museum and the Impressionist Gallery is the first think I seek out.  One of my favorite Museums is the Boston Museum of Art where they house "The Japanese Woman", (Monet's wife).  They have a fine Impressionist Exhibit.
Thank you so much for joining, you add so much to this group.
Marie
Edited by MarieSager About 9 months ago.
June 04, 2009 at 5:11:23 AM #9
Discussions: 7
Joined: 11/29/2008
Location: Los Angeles
Thank you everyone for posting, I've been traveling and have brought back a few pictures from London and hope they fit in with the group of Monet photos. 
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Claude Monet