• We have an exciting day lined up with two morning lectures, a delicious lunch and then an afternoon lecture all on the Impressionists given by Caroline Holme (author of the book on the previous slide)
• The event will be held as usual at Cucklington Hall.
• Ticket price will be £35, to include all Refreshments and Lunch - with wine!
• Tickets can be made via the website or at the next lectures when a Display board will be here at the hall with more details.
• Contact Hennie Walton 07960633340 hennwal@btinternet.com

Introduction: Gardens of French impressionists from Argenteuil and Giverny to the South of France

In 1883 Monet moved into Le Pressoir, Giverny, below his house he created gardens whose colours vibrantly or contemplatively evolved under the Norman skies.  Initially he painted the rural motifs of the poplars and grainstacks before devoting himself to the floral canvas of his own making until his death in 1926. Botanically and horticulturally skilled, Monet grew the latest in irises and water lilies watching them as the day reflected its course in their shapes, moments captured for eternity in over 500 paintings. The landscapes of Japanese ukiyo-e (floating world) prints fed into Monet’s sense of perspective and use of plants.

We will also explore French impressions under Mediterranean skies with special reference to Les Colettes, final home of Renoir.

North American Impressionists at home and away

In 1872 artist William Merritt Chase told the NY Times ‘My God, I would rather go to Europe than go to Heaven’ notably to France and Italy. Philadelphia’s 1876 World’s Fair Centennial International Exhibition inspired the quest for ‘olden tyme’ plants and poetry, fulfilled by Childe Hassam’s muse, the poet Celia Thaxter on Appledore. Parallels can be drawn between the gardens created by John Henry Twachtman at Greenwich, CT and the Cos Cob and Old Lyme Art Colonies with Monet and Giverny.  In 1893 Chicago hosted the World’s Columbian Exposition which featured the mural Primitive Woman by Mary Fairchild MacMonnies facing Modern Woman by Mary Cassatt. Gardens and children are ingeniously combined by Cassatt and Canadian Impressionist Helen MacNicoll. Tired of narrow artistic traditions at home three generations of American artists including Frederick Frieseke came to Giverny to live, or lodge at the Hotel Baudy.