This book seeks to portray Monet’s art in its historical perspective．Approximately 300 paintings have been selected in order to emphasize not only the masterpieces，but the important“unsuccessful”works and the most critical moments in this art．ist’s career as well．

Claude Monet is commonly considered the most consistent and representative Impressionist artist．His Impression，Sunrise (18741 inspired the official name of this movement，and his works represent the climax of the Impressionist aesthetic．However．Monet’s place in the history of modern art is much more far-reaching．His work transcends the bounds of nine-teenth-century art—including the 1imited sphere of the movement that his namesymbolizes．

This book seeks to portray Monet’s art in its historical perspective．Approximately 300 paintings have been selected in order to emphasize not only the masterpieces，but the important“unsuccessful”works and the most critical moments in this art．ist’s career as well．

What emerges is the figure of a great pioneer of modern artistic sensibility whose importance and historical role are rivaled only by C6zanne and Van Gogh．

THE PAINTER OF LIGHT

The capital of the nineteenth century

The painting of modern life

Morning impressions

The destruction of visual certainties

Form and formlessness：the water lily pond

THE WORKS

Biography

Painting and atmosphere

The construction of the painting

Impressionism in its prime

Matter and colour

Late luminism

The obsession with the subject

The last water lilies

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

PICTURE SOURCES