June 6, 2008
Monet’s garden at Giverny is full of roses.
It is not a proper rose garden, for there are also many other sorts of flowers, but nonetheless it is gorgeous in May and June when the roses are in bloom.
They are everywhere, weeping from the umbrella like structures, climbing on trellises, on fences, on trees, on the facade of the house, wrapped around tripods, in bunches, or among peonies and sweet rocket in the mixed borders…
All sorts of colors can be seen, pale cream, pure white, soft yellow, many pinks, red, orange… Not all of them are simple roses but many are scented. Light and delight.
Posted in Monet's flower garden 4 Comments »
June 5, 2008
Monet was keen on painting through the weeping willow. It was difficult, and he liked the challenge.
There was the vertical axis of the branches and the horizontal axis of the floating water lilies.
In addition, the reflection of the sky looks like a hole in the water.
And Monet could even see the stems of the flowers under the surface.
When he painted here, he had to mix all the different plans to put them on the two dimensional canvas.
Posted in Water-Garden No Comments »
May 30, 2008
A bust of Claude Monet by the sculptor Daniel Goupil can be admired in Giverny.
Surprisingly enough, the tribute to the master of Impressionism is not exhibited on a well exposed location, in front of his home for instance. On the contrary you have to look for it to find it.
The artist wanted Monet to face the landscape he loved, the meadows and the poplars of the Seine valley.
The bust is situated on the very spot where Monet painted several canvases.
It is to be found on the back of the main parking lot ‘La Prairie’, slightly hidden by a big weping willow.
Posted in Giverny No Comments »
May 23, 2008
Monet’s flower garden is divided by a broad alley.
He designed the whole garden except this walk which existed when he settled into the house.
When they came to Giverny this alley was lined by spruce trees. It was dark and full of shade, what pleased Alice: she could walk out in the garden without a parasol. But Monet disliked the spruce trees because flowers would not grow in their shade.
The couple had many arguements about these trees, and it is obvious who won.
Did Alice give up, as a smart lady? Monet kept the two yew trees at the top of the way, and he cut the other ones at a four meter height. The trunks looked like columns. Monet grew climbing roses on them and between each pair of columns he had arches also with climbing roses.
The result was lovely in spring. Now, only the arches and the yew trees remain.
Posted in Monet's flower garden No Comments »
May 21, 2008
Monet was 42 when he arrived in Giverny.
Let’s say he was in his forty-third year, and he spent forty three years in Giverny. Exactly half of his life!
When he arrived he was looking for a big house to live with his family. He was lucky enough to find this one.
He felt so happy there he never wanted to move anymore.
Posted in Monet's House No Comments »
April 27, 2008
Spring has come suddenly. It was warm and sunny today, and the sunshine enhanced the bright colors of Monet’s flower garden.
In the water garden the azaleas are in full bloom. On the trees the little leaves look tender and fresh.
April light has a special quality, a sort of sparkling effect that can be noticed on Monet’s footbridge seen into backlight.
Posted in Water-Garden 1 Comment »
April 23, 2008
Monet’s home is painted into pink, a pale pink that matches the Japanese cherry trees and the crab apple trees blooming in April, at the beginning of the season.
In the spring freshness, pink seems to be everywhere, from the tulips aligned in front of the house in island beds to the many pansies scattered in the mixed borders.
All these pinks are enhanced by the tender green of the new born leaves and grass.
Posted in Monet's House Comments Off on The Pink House
