In Claude Monet’s footsteps in Vétheuil

Before settling in Giverny in his house there, to become so famed for its gardens and water lily pond, Claude Monet first stayed on the opposite bank of the Seine, in Vétheuil. On a guided tour of this village’s lanes, discover Monet’s historic and artistic heritage here.

In 1878, Claude Monet was living in Paris. He wasn’t widely known and, along with his fellow Impressionists, could not make a living from his art. Just a few art collectors and dealers appreciated his work. Some of these did regularly buy canvases he’d painted, but for a song.

During that period, Monet often agreed to part with paintings for just a few dozen francs each. He didn’t have a choice, as he had to make sure he had enough money to look after his wife, Camille, and their children, Jean and Michel. At the age of 38, he had no personal wealth, nor any other professional activity to rely on.

This was the context in which the Monet family left Paris to move to Vétheuil in August 1878. This village sits in a lovely Seine-side location, surrounded by enchanting countryside. Our artist found renewed inspiration here. As soon as he arrived, he set about painting again.

The Monets shared their little Vétheuil house with Ernest Hoschedé, a former patron who had been bankrupted, the latter’s wife Alice and their six children. For three years, the two families supported each other as they experienced some of the hardest times in their lives. Between 1878 and 1881, Monet painted more than 200 canvases, several now exhibited in some of the greatest museums across the globe.

As recounted by Claire – the present owner of Monet’s house in Vétheuil and a tour guide fascinated by the Impressionist master’s life – the artist’s time here is brought back to life as visitors wander along the village paths and beside the Seine. Thus, a little-known side to Monet’s life is revealed. The tour even takes you to spots where he frequently set up his easel.