Musee Marmottan's Treasures of Monet (Musee Marmottan Paris) [Hardcover]

"Monet is an Impressionist par excellence." ~ Thèodore Duret ~

Author Michael Howard, a Senior Lecturer in History of Art and Design at the Manchester Metropolitan University, is one of the leading and most prolific writers of art books. Some of his works include books about the masterworks of Paul Gauguin, Edgar Degas, Francisco Goya as well as articles on art newspapers and publications. Likewise, he served as a curator of many art exhibitions in Manchester.

Claude Monet was one of the Impressionist painters who truly impressed me with his work particularly paintings of landscape of his native land, romantic seascapes and the cities of Paris and Venice. His paintings are very impressive and eye-catching marked by delicate colors, balance and harmony. He was a well-traveled artist, a connoisseur of wine and food, a lover of true nature, and in spite of being hailed as the leader of the Impressionist movement and one of the world's well-loved and most popular painters, he was not fully contented with his remarkable achievements. Many emerging artists after the World War II such as Jackson Pollack singled him out as an influence and a model to imitate.

Printed in 2007, this 88-page-hardcover, "The Treasures of Monet" will take art lovers to a beautiful journey into the life and works of Monet, a great artist. It includes facsimile memorabilia such as drawings, paintings, sketch books, personal documents, handwritten notes and letters that represent the most significant events in his life. These were reproduced from the original material that the artist's youngest son, Michel Monet, bestowed to the Musèe Marmottan Monet in Paris in 1966.

Some of the reproduced copies found in this beautiful book include his baptism registration which took place at the Church of Notre Dame de Lorrette in Paris on May 21, 1984; the registration of his marriage to Alice Hoschedè in 1892; and one of his preparatory drawings of cliffs on the Normandy coast, which was a constant destination for him to study the effects of the light on water.

My favorites from his masterworks found in this book include "Women In The Garden," "Water Lilies," "Palazzo Dario in Venice," "Rio de Santa Salute," "The Road to Chailly" and "View of the Tuileries."

The plaque on the tomb where he lies next to his wife, Alice, is written in French and translates as...

"Here lies our good friend
Claude Monet
Born 14 November 1840
Died 5 December 1926
Missed by everyone"

For art lovers who appreciate the works of Monet, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is a welcome addition to your art book collection and also an ideal gift to someone who shares your love for this art form.

"Monet is only an eye, but my God what an eye." ~ Paul Cèzanne ~

This must be the most interesting book about Claude Monet's life that is available on the market. It is full of copies of documents relating to events in his life, as well as wonderful information and photos of his works, as well as of his contemporaries.Beautifully put together, a collectors item!The Treasures of Monet (Musee Marmottan Monet, Paris)