Discover the genius of Claude Monet through this highly informative guide, which tells the fascinating story of the life and work of one of the most famous figures in the history of art. Superb, specially commissioned photographs show the methods and materials Monet used to create his masterpieces, while art historian Jude Welton offers a unique eyewitness view of the painters distinctive canvases, and the complex personality behind them. See close-ups of Monets vigorous, textured brushwork, how he captured the ever-changing effects of light on water, the lavish garden he created at Giverny, which inspired over 500 paintings. Learn how the trains at the Gare Saint-Lazare were stopped for Monet to paint them, how he created the celebrated Cathedrals and other series paintings, how he was influenced by Japanese art. Discover how the term Impressionist was coined, Monets links with Manet, Renoir, Sisley, how doctors battled to save his failing eyesight, and much, much more!