When famed French Impressionist Claude Monet brought his family to Giverny, a small village northwest of Paris, he began the most productive period of his life.
Today millions visit the fabled gardens the artist helped design, where they are entranced by the ponds, landscapes, and bridges.
Although Monet's retreat has been described as simple and countrified, it was not at all humble. He enjoyed the services of six gardeners, a chauffeur, a cook, a washer woman, and a housemaid.
His love of entertaining and good food focused his attention on his yellow dining room decorated with Japanese woodcuts. For this area Monet designed color coordinated china - a sunny yellow with a soft blue trim.
This intimate look at the influence of Giverny on Monet and his work reveals another dimension of the artist's oeuvre.