New York Botanical Garden recreates Monet’s ‘living masterpiece’

An avid gardener, French Impressionist painter Claude Monet is perhaps best known for the depictions of the flowers and plants he grew, particularly his serene water lilies.

In summer 2012, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) recreated and reinterpreted Monet’s “living masterpiece” – his celebrated garden at Giverny – with the exhibition “Monet’s Garden,” which explored the relationship between his art and horticultural interests. NYBG installed a diverse and colorful array of plants and flowers inspired by the Giverny grounds, including irises, water lilies and weeping willows.

The exhibition also restaged Monet’s famous Japanese footbridge and the façade of the artist’s house, designed by Tony Award-winning set designer Scott Pask. The surroundings provided unique insight into the artist’s inspiration and passion, which was further supplemented by the display of his paintings, as well as Elizabeth Murray’s photographs of Giverny, a poetry tour, a historical exhibition and special events.

The Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation sponsored the “NYBG in Bloom” mobile application through the Art & Emerging Technology grant program, which advances the usage of interactive technologies in cultural institutions. The free application includes a special section designed for the “Monet’s Garden” exhibit, through which users can capture Impressionist-style photos, take tours of the garden, and see corresponding paintings displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

For more information about the exhibit and NYBG, please click here.The NYBG in Bloom application is available through the Apple iTunes store.