Financial Success: From Poverty to Prosperity

The transformation in Monet's financial situation represents one of his most dramatic triumphs. By the 1890s, the artist who had once lacked money for food was earning substantial sums. By 1900, he was wealthy enough to employ six gardeners and extensively renovate his property. By his death in 1926, he left an estate worth millions of francs.

This financial success came through several channels. Paul Durand-Ruel's early support was crucial, providing regular income even when paintings weren't selling. As Impressionism gained acceptance, other dealers competed for Monet's work, driving prices higher. American collectors, less bound by French academic traditions, eagerly bought Impressionist paintings, creating a new market.

Monet proved to be a shrewd businessman once success arrived. He played dealers against each other, maintained control over his production, and carefully managed his market. He understood the value of scarcity, sometimes holding paintings back to maintain prices. He also diversified his buyers, selling to collectors in France, America, Japan, and Russia.

The financial success allowed Monet to fully realize his artistic vision. He could afford the best materials, hire assistants to maintain his garden, build custom studios, and most importantly, paint without the constant anxiety about money that had plagued his early years. The freedom that prosperity brought enabled the great series paintings and the monumental Water Lilies that crowned his career.