Claude Oscar Monet (1840-1926). A native Parisian, who thoroughly developed the idea of Impressionism. Monet almost scientifically studied the effect of light on different objects. He devoted himself to so called transitory states, which quickly led him to work with colour and light, his paintings acting on the viewer from the first impression. His use of open-air painting and objects which were special only because of light opened the way for the beginnings of modern painting. Monet’s Impression, Sunrise (1874) not only gave the name to the whole art movement, but secured Monet a place among the best painters of all times. At one time, he resided in London and created his famous study Houses of Parliament (Monet wondered, How could the English painters paint Parliament when it cannot be seen for the fog?). In the Giverny, which became his favourite retreat after the death of his wife, he painted motifs from his garden and the popular series Water Lilies - the world of the water was as poetic and mysterious as a primordial paradise.