“The first month at Giverny was quite challenging, spent proving myself to M. Vahé, the head gardener, and the seven other male gardeners. None of them could understand why an American woman would want to work so hard for free. But my love and enthusiasm for the garden and Monet grew as each new plant came into blossom.” Elizabeth Murray.

Before I received my copy of Monet’s Passion by Elizabeth Murray, I knew this was going to be a beautiful volume. When I opened the packaging I was overwhelmed by the book’s beauty: the rich feel of the jacket, the amazingly rich photographs that seem to have captured every aspect of Monets’ garden, and the exquisite transparent overlays with pen and ink sketches. Having written a few books about prehistoric art myself I am all to aware of the issues involved in publishing high quality art books at reasonable prices. This latest edition of Monet’s Passion, published in 2010 to celebrate its 20th anniversary, really and truly is a snip at only $35. [Read more →]

Claude Monet, Poppy Field (Giverny). 1890-91. Oil on canvas. 24 1/16″ x 36 5/8″ (61.2 x 93.1 cm). © Kimball Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago.

Claude Monet is not only well known for his paintings of the water lilies on the ponds he created in his Garden at Giverny, he also painted numerous fields of poppies, while living in Argenteuil and later in Giverny. No visit to Giverny in June or July should miss the many poppy fields surrounding the village. [Read more →]

Mary Towsey outside Galerie 60, Giverny.

Besides Monet’s house and garden and the Musée de Impressionismes, there are at least six other galleries in Giverny that display contemporary art. Some of these are dedicated to the work of one artist, others have a rolling programme of exhibitions throughout the season. So if you are visiting Giverny for the day or even staying in or near Giverny overnight there really is a lot to do. [Read more →]

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” Claude Monet.

The other day guests staying in my Normandy Bed & Breakfast returned from a day trip to Giverny. Even though they were keen gardeners themselves, they were quite overwhelmed by the numerous displays of tulips in Monet’s Garden and the gardens of the Musée des Impressionismes. This was all the excuse I needed to have a day trip of my own. It will come as no surprise that the various gardens in Giverny look spectacular all year round, and Giverny in spring is no different. So, here are a few photographs for MGN readers to enjoy. [Read more →]

The entrance to the Musée des Impressionnismes, Giverny.

The main attraction in Giverny is obviously Monet’s house and gardens. But any visitor to Giverny really should not miss the new impressionist museum. The Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny opened its doors 1 May 2009, taking over from the Terra Foundation’s Museum of American Art in Giverny. [Read more →]

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” Claude Monet.

For almost 43 years, from 1883 to 1926, Claude Monet lived in Giverny, Normandy. There he combined his passion for colour, flowers and gardening and created one of the now most famous and well known historical gardens in World. A garden that most people know having seen reproductions of his wonderful paintings. [Read more →]

“In Giverny he has a large orchard with, infront of the house, just a few flowerbeds, and two long beds on either side of the central path, with its entrance on the Chemin du Roy.” Jean-Pierre Hoschedé, 1960*

If the Normandy port city of Le Havre is the birthplace of Impressionism, then the Normandy village of Giverny is widely thought of now as the heart of impressionist art. But, by the time Claude Monet moved his family to Giverny in 1883 the heady days of the impressionist revolution in French art circles were in fact over. With his Giverny gardens and the lily ponds he created, Monet went on to place this small rural village at the centre of the impressionism. And today thousands of people visit Monet’s house and garden each year. [Read more →]