Monet's Garden at The New York Botanical Garden

NEW YORK, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Monet's Garden, an exhibition at The New York Botanical Garden from May 19 through October 21, 2012, examines the life and work of Claude Monet, the Impressionist master by highlighting his passion for gardening and the inspiration he drew from his living masterpiece, the garden on the grounds of his home in Giverny, France.

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Among the many attractions of the exhibition are two rarely seen paintings by Monet, one of which has never been displayed in the United States. Also on view is Monet's own palette with colors on its surface similar to those visitors will see on his paintings hanging nearby, and rare photographs of him and his gardens, offering intimate insight into his world.

The multifaceted exhibition features components in several venues throughout the Botanical Garden and a rich assortment of programming that includes concerts, poetry, tours, film screenings, a photography exhibit, and family activities. The curator for this exhibition is Professor Paul Hayes Tucker, the world's foremost authority on Claude Monet and Impressionism.

Monet's Garden explores the legacy of the artist's idyllic gardens in Giverny, transforming the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a seasonally changing floral masterpiece of diverse plants, bold colors, and dramatic design. A facade of Monet's house offers a glimpse of the artist's view of his garden and the flowers he grew and depicted in his paintings. Other set pieces include a re-creation of his iconic Japanese footbridge and his Grande Allee, draped with flowers.

During the summer, in the Conservatory Courtyard's Hardy Pool, the Garden's collection of water lilies offer visitors the perfect chance to see firsthand the plants that Monet collected for his water garden and painted in his famous Nympheas series.

Photographs of Giverny in different seasons by Elizabeth Murray, who gardened at and helped with the restoration of Monet's estate, are on view in Seasons of Giverny, an exhibit in the Garden's Ross Gallery.

The New York Botanical Garden is America's premier urban garden. Its special exhibitions, seasonal programs, and engaging activities inspire visitors of every age and interest. The Botanical Garden is an ever-changing living museum, and a showplace of natural beauty and wonder. In the setting of the Garden, visitors will witness how nature inspired Claude Monet and how he developed his art through his passion for gardening. For more information, visit nybg.org or call 718.817.8700.

CONTACT: Nicholas Leshi, PH: 1-718-817-8658, Email: [email protected]

SOURCE The New York Botanical Garden