Claude Monet

Impressionism emerged in France within the middle of the nineteenth century and The famous paintings by Monet is one among the pioneers of this revolutionary front. Claude Monet has painted a number of the best masterpieces of Impressionism and his works has been revered by critics and folks alike.

Here are 10 of Monet's Famous Paintings.

#1 Water Lilies (Nympheas)
Monet’s series of the “Nympheas” are represented as “The Sistine Chapel of Impressionism”. The series consists of approximately 250 famous oil paintings by Monet which were painted throughout the last thirty years of his life. They are now on display in museums all around the world. One of the paintings of the series was sold for 80 million at an auction in 2008. The dazzling complexness of color and light-weight within the “Nymphéas” panels opens the viewer’s eyes to the unbelievable diversity of nature and to the depth and mystery of the life it sustains. An amazing issue regarding these works is that Monet’s seeing was badly deteriorating because of cataract while he painted most of these masterpieces. Giovanna Bertazzoni, in Christie’s auction house director and the head of impressionist and modern art, had said “Oscar Claude Monet’s water-lily paintings area unit amongst the foremost recognized and celebrated works of the twentieth Century and were vastly influential to several of the subsequent generations of artists”.

#2 Impression, Sunrise
The second of the series of famous paintings by Monet is legendary for giving a reputation to the Impressionist movement and has currently become a illustration image of Impressionism. It was not well taken by the critics and the term Impressionist was coined in a satirical review by Louis Leroy in which he went to the extent of saying: “Wallpaper in its embryonic state is way more finished than that seascape.” However, the Impressionist movement, soon became so popular that it then spread to music and literature as well. The subject of the painting is that the harbor of urban center in France. It is noted for terribly loose brushstrokes that recommend instead of outline it. Monet uses color because the main issue to capture the terribly essence of the scene. An interesting thing regarding this painting is that if you create a black and white copy of it then the sun disappears virtually entirely.

#3 Rouen Cathedral series - Year: 1892 – 1893
The third of the series of famous paintings by Monet captures the facade of Rouen Cathedral in France at different times of the day and year, showcasing its changes with varying light conditions. While studying these paintings it is noted that Monet broke painting tradition and cropped the subject so that only a portion of the facade is seen on the canvas. Painting the series was a difficult task for Monet. He wrote, ‘Things don’t advance very steadily, primarily because each day I discover something I hadn’t seen the day before… In the end, I am trying to do the impossible.’ He was, however, helped by his ability to capture the essence of the scene quickly and finish it later from memory.

#4 Haystacks Series - Year: 1890 – 1891
Among Monet’s most famous paintings and notable works, the Haystacks series primarily refers to 25 canvases that he painted in the above mentioned period. The subjects of the paintings are haystacks in the fields near Monet’s home in Giverny, France which he noted during a casual walk along the countryside. The series is famous for repeating the same scene to showcase differences in perception of sunshine across varied times of day, seasons, and types of weather. These paintings made Monet the first painter to paint so many illustrations of the same subject matter.

#5 Houses of Parliament series Year: 1900 – 1905
The fifth of the series of famous paintings by Monet was during his stays in London in this time period. Monet painted this series whose subject is the Palace of Westminster, home of the British Parliament. All the 19 paintings of the series are of the same size and depict the same scene from the same viewpoint but they showcase varied weather circumstances and varied times of the day. One of the paintings of the series fetched more than 20 million dollars in an auction in 2004.

#6 Poplar Series Year: 1891
This famous painting series by Monet consists of 24 paintings of the magnificent trees along the banks of the Epte River, a few kilometers upstream from Monet’s house. A floating painting studio was moored in place and he reached there by a small boat. However, before he could finish the town wanted to auction and sell the trees, so in order to continue, Monet bought the trees and then sold them after he finished painting. There were three types of groups for these paintings -first group was three poplars with an ‘S’ curve in the back; second group was a lot of poplars with an ‘S’ curve; third group were poplars with their reflections. A crucial element of the paintings was the ‘S’ curve that was outlined by the top of the trees; although it made critics term the paintings too decorative initially, as time passed the ‘S’ curve became a highlight and selling point for the paintings.

#7 San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk Year: 1908 – 1912
Monet had no intention of painting once he visited Venice in 1908 as it had already been represented by various artists. However, during his visit he was entranced by the sights in the city and he called for his painting material. He began a series of preliminary works which he completed much later when he returned home. Among these was this painting which is also referred to as Venice at Dusk and which became one of Monet's most popular and famous paintings. It is noted for thin, light brushstrokes and masterful depiction of light and the movement of water.

#8 Camille or The Woman in the Green Dress Year: 1866
This is the famous painting that first brought recognition to Monet. It fetched Monet 800 francs, a great amount for a struggling artist at that time. It showed his 1st wife Camille Doncieux in a beautiful green dress. Camille features in several other paintings by her husband, including, Women in the Garden, and On the Bank of the Seine, Bennecourt. The painting is from the early period of Monet’s career when he painted in realist style as opposed to Impressionist.

#9 Woman with a Parasol Year: 1875
One of his earlier works of famous paintings by Monet depicts his first wife Camille Doncieux with their elder son Jean. Camille is holding a parasol or a light umbrella and it seems that she is catching a glimpse of someone looking at her. The painting is early evidence of Monet focusing more on light and color as opposed to line and shape.

#10 Bain à la Grenouillère Year: 1869
The tenth of the series of famous paintings by Monet La Grenouillère was a popular middle class boating and bathing resort of those times. Monet wrote on September twenty five, 1869, “I do have a dream, a painting, the baths of La Grenouillère, for which I have made some bad sketches, but it is only a dream.” The painting below and one in the London National Gallery are probably one of the sketches with the original tableau having been lost. Renoir, who was very close to Claude Monet at the time, conjointly needed to try and do this painting.