Portrait of an Artist: Monet Trivia Quiz

Answer: Oscar-Claude

Oscar-Claude Monet (November 14, 1840-December 5, 1926) was the second son of Claude Adolphe and Louise Justine Aubree Monet. He was baptised as Oscar-Claude and his parents called him Oscar. In his younger days he signed his works as O. Monet. It is unclear when he stating using only the name Claude Monet. As a teenager his drawings were mainly charcoal caricatures until he was introduced to outdoor painting.

Answer: Eugène Boudin

Eugène Boudin (1824-1898) recognised and encouraged Monet's talent and introduced the young artist to outdoor painting. This was a revelation to Monet and it was the way he wanted to paint. Jacques-Francois Orchard (1800-1870) is remembered as the first art teacher of Monet when he was at high school and Orchard was a student of Jacques-Louis David. Charles Gleyre (1806-1875) was a Swiss artist under whom Monet became a student in Paris in 1861. Gleyre taught a number of young artists including Renoir, Sisley and Whistler.

Answer: Drafted into the African Light Cavalry

He was sent to Algeria with the First Regiment of the African Light Cavalry. He became bored with army life but was delighted by the alien landscape with dazzling sunshine with exotic light and colours. Within two years he was stricken with typhoid fever and was shipped back to France. His mother had passed away in January 1857 and he only became a father in 1867.

Answer: The Woman in the Green Dress

The "Salon de Paris" was the most famous annual art exhibition in the western world at that time. The model for The Woman in the Green Dress was Camille Doncieux who was later to become his first wife and mother of his two sons. The Luncheon on the Grass was meant to be his exhibit in 1866 but was not finished in time, so he entered The Women in the Green Dress. Women in the Garden was entered but rejected in 1867 based on the grounds of the subject and due to his heavy brush-strokes which was not an accepted style of painting at that time.

However, he would have his revenge 52 years later when he sold "Women in the Garden" to the French state for 200,000 francs which was an enormous amount of money in 1919. Woman in a Garden (1867) was never entered in the exhibition.

Answer: Fear of military draft when France and Prussia went to war

France and Prussia went to war in July 1870. Camille and their son Jean, joined him in London later. It was while in London that he met Paul Durant-Ruel who purchased several of his paintings. It was also while in London that he heard of the death of his friend Bazille in the war, and in January 1871 his father died and left the majority of his wealth to his second wife and her daughter.

Answer: The term "Impressionists" was coined.

Louis Leroy, the art critic of the newspaper "Le Charivari" made fun of Monet's painting "Impression: Sunrise". He unintentionally provided the name for this particular movement of artists. Whether they liked it or not, from then on they were known as the "Impressionists". Attendances were very poor and few paintings were sold.

However, the artists had defied the establishment and with thirty artists they established the Co-operative and Anonymous Association of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers (the Impressionists).

Answer: Giverny

His paintings became quite popular and sold easily and because of this increased wealth it was possible for him to now buy and extend the property. He imported exotic plants, built a beautiful garden, greenhouses and devised complex planting schemes. The area is still maintained and is the property of France and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Le Havre is where Monet spent his childhood and he lived in Vétheuile for three years before moving to Poissy.

He was not happy living in Poissy and it was at that time he found and fell in love with Giverny.

Answer: Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) was a "post-Impressionist". After this period was "Neo-Impressionism" with Georges Seurat (1859-1891) considered to be the founder of this art movement. Pissarro (1830-1903), Dégas (1834-1917) and Renoux (1863-1932) were all "Impressionists".

Answer: Musée de l'Orangerie

In 1922 Monet signed the contract to have his Water Lilies displayed at the museum. It took five years before the display was open to the public. The Musée de l'Orangerie is the art gallery of "Impressionist" and "Post-Impressionist" paintings. It is famous as the permanent home to the eight Water Lilies murals of Monet. Sadly, Monet died of lung cancer on December 5, 1926 before the public exhibition in the museum.

The Musée d'Orsay displays mainly French art from 1848-1915 including paintings, sculptures, furniture and photography.

It does however, hold the largest collection of Impressionist and Post Impressionist masterpieces in the world. The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums and Jeu de Paume is an art centre for modern and post modern photography and media.

Answer: Haystacks

This exhibition took place at Galerie Durant-Ruel in 1891. He displayed 15 paintings at this exhibition. In 1892 he did twenty-six views of Rouen Cathedral which are probably his best known series paintings. Besides the series of St-Lazare Station and Grand Canal (Venice) he also did series of Poplars, Houses of Parliament (London), Charing Cross Bridge (London) and Water Lilies to name just a few.