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Summary: The Ultimate Collection of Monet Paintings
Review: This is the most comprehensive collection of Monet's Paintings as its name implies. The handsome 4-volume set, published in 1996, comes with 2,580 illustrations in 1,540 pages.
Volume I is a complete biography of the Artist in details, that also contains partial correspondence.
Volumes II-IV catalogue 2,050 paintings, listed in Wildenstein Number in chronological order, with text in French, English, and German. Each entry includes: 1. Technical data ("W" number, title, size (in centimeters), and signature
2. List of Exhibitions
3. Exhaustive Bibliography
4. Provenance, detailing history from its origin
5. Brief commentary
Volume II: W1 (1858) - W968 (1885)
Volume III: W969 (1885) - W1595 (1899-1901)
Volume IV: W1596 (1900) - W1983 (1926), and the Donation to the Musee de l'Orangerie, Paris
Including in Volume IV: Exhaustive Bibliography; List of Expositions from 1858 to 1995; Index of Collectors, Galleries, and Museums; and Analytical Index of the Subjects.
Its previous 5-volume black-and-white edition cost more than US$10,000, and were found only in large museums or major universities' art department. This is the chance for any serious Monet fan to own this monumental work at a highly affordable price!
Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive tour du force
Review: A must-have for any student of Monet. Volumne I contains covers his biography proper, while volumes II-IV provide a COMPLETE record of the artist's body of work. Wilderstein protrays Monet life for the most part as that of a debtor. However to his credit, he tempers the romantic "suffering artist" idealism with insight into Monet the creditor. By illustrating what a jackass the artist could also be, the author creates a deep and lively narrative. Most of the personal insight into Monet come to us by way of coorespondance with Alice Hoeschede. Due to 'appearances' however she requested of Monet her letters be destroyed immediately and thus we're sadly left with a one-sided portrait of the man. While his artistic talents we're unparalled, it's his devotation to correspondance that allows Wildenstein to bring him back to life. Without giving away the ending, it's Monet's inability to write rather than paint that signals the end.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive tour du force
Review: A must-have for any student of Monet. Volumne I contains covers his biography proper, while volumes II-IV provide a COMPLETE record of the artist's body of work. Wilderstein protrays Monet life for the most part as that of a debtor. However to his credit, he tempers the romantic "suffering artist" idealism with insight into Monet the creditor. By illustrating what a jackass the artist could also be, the author creates a deep and lively narrative. Most of the personal insight into Monet come to us by way of coorespondance with Alice Hoeschede. Due to 'appearances' however she requested of Monet her letters be destroyed immediately and thus we're sadly left with a one-sided portrait of the man. While his artistic talents we're unparalled, it's his devotation to correspondance that allows Wildenstein to bring him back to life. Without giving away the ending, it's Monet's inability to write rather than paint that signals the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Little substance, fair reproductions
Review: Another book on the overblown impressionists. Little commentary and fair reproductions. A perfect book to put on your coffee table with your Renoir coasters. Souveneir book only.
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Summary: Outstanding book!!
Review: I loved this book! The pictures were wonderful and the readings that went with them were as well. Learned many things that I did not know about his artwork. VERY informative...give it a try, it would make a great gift book!
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Summary: Water Lily Heaven
Review: If you are in love with Claude Monet's Water Lily Pond paintings, this is the best book for an explanation as to their origins and where Monet found his inspiration. There is a photograph from 1926 showing the bridge covered with climbing plants. The Japanese Bridge at Giverny, 1924 is just one of the outstanding paintings in a series of works devoted to the bridge that preoccupied Monet during his final years. Monet loved his garden at Giverny with such a passion that one could say it bordered on obsession. Harmony in Green, The White Water Lilies, The Water Lily Pond are all explained in detail. There is even a picture of Monet photographed in his beloved garden in 1917. In every life there is beauty and sadness. The beauty of the water lilies contrasts with the pain Monet felt when he painted Camille on her death bed. When Monet's wife died, she not only left him without a companion, he then had small children depending on him. He spent most of his meager earnings on his wife's medical treatments and he was also deeply depressed and alone. This type of revealing information makes him so very human and the paintings then contain a certain depth when these secrets are revealed.
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Summary: Visual Treat!
Review: This Claude Monet art book is a great book, I received it as a gift over 10 years ago and I think it's very well put together and has beautiful images of Monet's best artwork and the book also gives some info as well. I recommend this book which is a good read, a visual treat and makes an excellent coffee table book!
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