Monet and Camille are a tale as old as time. The original artist and his muse. 155 years ago on June 28, 1870, Claude Monet and Camille Doncieux were married. In celebration of this, let’s take a look back at their relationship.
Monet and Camille, the love story.
Monet met Camille when she first modeled for him in the late 1960s, posing for an array of paintings including “Luncheon on the Grass”.
Their connection was instantaneous and what started as a professional relationship soon became more intimate, going against the societal norms of the time. Despite the disapproval from Monet’s family, nothing could keep the couple apart and they were married a few years later.
On August 8, 1867, Camille gave birth to their first son Jean and the following year the Monet’s moved to Gloton, a small town in North Central France.
The pair married in a small civil ceremony in 1870 – Monet’s family did not attend. Camille’s family was there and painter Gustave Courbet was their witness. It wasn’t until 1878 that they had their second child; a son they named Michel. Camille’s health quickly declined and she died only a year after Michel’s birth.
Camille, the Muse.
Over the course of their relationship, Camille appeared in approximately 50 pieces of Monet’s works including, most notably, “Woman with a Parasol”, “The woman in a Green Dress”, “Camille on the Beach”, “Springtime” and “Camille in the Garden with Jean and his Nanny”.
Monet and Camille’s relationship has transcended time through these pieces of artwork; you can see the love and admiration in each brush stroke. While their love story may have been cut short, it lives on in Monet’s masterpieces.
Sources
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Doncieux
- Canvas, Bethany Fincher. https://canvas.saatchiart.com/art/art-history-101/monet-his-muse
