- Without question, Claude Monet (1840-1926) ranks among the most beloved artists of all time. Often referred to as the founding member of the impressionist movement. Monet popularized the style of painting referred to as en plein air, which he learned from his teacher Eugene Boudin in Le Havre. Monet soon formed a group of painters that included Camille Pissarro and Pierre Auguste Renoir and would eventually become known as the impressionists. Nature provided an endless source of inspiration for Monet, as is reflected in his many depictions of the gardens and ponds at Giverny, his country retreat along the Seine in northern France. This volume showcases the artist"s most renowned canvases, including his rendering of London"s Houses of Parliament, the Rouen Cathedral, and his world-famous Water Lilies series.