As his paintings magnificently attest, Claude Monet was enamored of flowers and gardens. Yet his interest went beyond the canvas. The beloved painter was also a passionate gardener, well versed in plant life and amply informed on the latest horticultural developments. Once he had achieved success and renown as a painter, he was able to devote himself to creating Giverny, one of the most beautiful and inventive gardens in all of France.
Now readers can enjoy the fruits of Monet's labors at Giverny and learn how they came to be. In this richly illustrated and revelatory volume, rare photographs are juxtaposed with reproductions of the artist's paintings demonstrating his masterful application of color and design both on the canvas and in the garden. Gardening expert Sydney Eddison and eminent Monet scholar Robert Gordon explore the relationship between gardening and art, offer insight on Monet's interest in plants, and examine the idea of artist as gardener, gardener as artist. Gordon discusses the artist's obsession with gardens and describes how Giverny evolved over time. In delightful anecdotes about the artist, his family, and his associates, he permits a privileged glimpse of everyday life in the Monet household.