Monet's lily pond became his most enduring motif, the water lilies the most celebrated flowers he ever painted. This book tells the story of their role as a central source of artistic inspiration, bringing exciting insights into Monet's work as a gardener and painter.
Vivian Russell also describes the making of the water garden which, in contrast to the flower garden, was to be meditative and mysterious. She reveals how Monet chose his water lilies from especially bred plants. Her superb photographs capturing the ephemeral beauty of the flowers and the way they appear to float on clouds and undulating rushes, portray the changing moods of the pond, complementing Monet's own serene poems to light.