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Mission Renaissance Art Studio

Posted in Uncategorized | July 14th, 2011

mission renaissance art studio

Water Lilies

Monet’s style of painting as well as his most famous work, Waterlilies, is explored. For full understanding, it’s important to take a brief look into the rebellion of the impressionist movement and leads into Monet’s inspiration, creation and the lasting impact of his life-affirming work in Waterlilies.

Water Lilies is a series of approximately 250 oil paintings by French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840–1926). The paintings depict Monet’s flower garden at Giverny and were the main focus of Monet’s artistic production during the last thirty years of his life. Many of the works were painted while Monet suffered from cataracts.

A limitless expanse of water lilies covers the walls of a room at the Orangerie in Paris producing a sense of awe at the culmination of Monet’s years of tedious focus upon his pond and the water lilies at Giverny: the Grandes Decorations (1921). Many people assume that his love of observing nature and efforts to capture the different effects of light on a setting, particularly the water in this case, inspired the enormous panels that create such an impressive effect. In fact, C.P. Weekes, author of The Invincible Monet stated, “Even his pictures, which to modern eyes appear the essence of romance, were to him scientifically exact reproductions of the effect of light on nature at any given moment” (Weekes 226). This study was a common theme in the multiple canvases of similar views as Monet explored the effects of light at different times of the day and seasons on the pond at Giverny, similar to what he had accomplished in other series. However, Weekes is wrong in his assumption that the Water Lilies existed devoid of any romantic influence. In fact, the reflections of the water lilies on the water are not a result of sunlight; instead, they symbolize Monet’s personal artistic reflection on his love for Alice Hoschede. Investigation of Monet’s progression, which focuses on the vast beauty of the reflection of the water lilies in his garden, proves that the loving relationship he had with Alice parallels his paintings, proving that this series was far from a simple study on light. By 1918, Monet had already created twelve water lilies murals which he called his Grandes Decorations. Measuring over six feet in height and nearly fourteen feet in width each, they dominated the space of his new studio. An accomplishment probably not possible without the support of the Prime Minister of France, Georges Clemenceau, who was also the artist’s long time friend. For Clemenceau believed just as fervently in Monet’s mission, even at times allowing materials for his friend’s studio to take precedence over the transport of military supplies. You can read Leonardo Da Vinci – a Renaissance Polymath for more.

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