Giverny

The family expanded the gardens, which were Monet's greatest source of inspiration for 40 years. In 1890, when Monet won the French lottery, he was able to buy the house, some surrounding buildings, and more land for his gardens. He built a greenhouse and a second studio, a spacious well-lit building with skylights.

Monet regarded his garden as a lifelong project and his greatest masterpiece. He wrote daily instructions to his gardener, with precise designs and layouts for seasonal plantings. He kept all the invoices for his floral purchases and built a large collection of botany books. As his wealth grew, his garden evolved. He remained its architect, even after he hired seven gardeners.