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Claude Monet

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Oscar-Claude Monet was a French painter in the late 19th and early 20th century. He is widely regarded as being the developer of the impressionist movement. Monet brought many innovations to the practice of art and was known for working on many of his paintings outdoors. Despite early rejection by the art establishment of the new impressionist movement, Monet would go on to earn fame and recognition for his work in his later years that continues to this day.
Monet was born November 14, 1840 and was the second son of a well to do businessman. When Monet was five, the family moved to Le Harve in northern France where Monet would spend most of his formative years. Monet would go to school but would struggle learning in a classroom setting and would often be caught drawing and sketching during lessons. Monet’s aversion to class and instruction would also be evident as he trained as an artist. His mother’s death in 1857, when Monet was 16, caused a lot of grief for Monet and shortly after her death he would leave school, move in with his widowed aunt and pursue art.
At the age of 18 he moved to Paris to study art at the Acadamie Suisse. He would make friendships and connections that would influence his life and work for years to come. Monet would enlist in the military at 21 and be stationed in the Northern African French colony of Algeria. He would be released after two years due to health reasons and return to art school to fulfill a promise to his aunt. In Paris, following his brief stint in the military, he would learn in the studio of Gleyre where he would befriend the group of painters who would go on to found the impressionist movement.
Monet’s work would gain acceptance into the Salon for the first time in ...

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...of his career with the rise of cubism but his work remained popular. Upon the French victory in World War I he would donate several of his works to the French government.
Monet was a highly skilled painter and made a profound impact on the history of art with his impressionist movement. He would struggle with depression, financial issues and the loss of two wives in his life. He would overcome these challenges to be one of the most famous painters the world has seen.

Sources:
Chilvers, Ian. "Monet, Claude." The Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2009. N. pag. Print.
"Claude Monet Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2014. .
"Claude Monet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 Jan. 2014. .
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