Claude Monet was a key figure in the Impressionist movement that transformed French painting in the second half of the nineteenth century. Throughout his long career, Monet consistently depicted the landscape and leisure activities of Paris and its environs as well as the Normandy coast

1859 Monet comes to Paris and enters the Swiss Academy. He enjoyed limited success in these early years, with a handful of landscapes, seascapes, and portraits accepted for exhibition at the annual Salons of the 1860s.

1863 Monet discovers Manet's painting and paints "en plein air" in the Fontainebleau forest Monet's paintings are submitted for the first time to the official Salon. Camille Doncieux his lady friend.

1867 portrait by Carolus Duran 1868 Monet tries to commit suicide. He receives a pension from Mr Gaudibert. He paints in Fecamp and Etretat.

Self-portrait Madame Monet in a Japanese Costume, 1875

1907 First problems with his eyesight. Monet discovers Venice Monet is nearly blind. He has an operation from the cataract in one eye. His sight improves.

Woman with a Parasol, facing left, 1886 Mouth of the Seine, 1865 Woman in a Garden, 1867

Мonet died of lung cancer on 5 December 1926 at the age of 86 and is buried in the Giverny church cemetery. Monet had insisted that the occasion be simple; thus only about fifty people attended the ceremony.