Monet's Sorrel Soup

An excerpt from Chez Madelaine's Blog on Monet:

In the afternoon, Monet closed himself off in the studio for hours. Only Alice was allowed to be in the room while he was working. Dinner was served early, usually soup, left-overs and cheese, so that the master could retire early.
The Monets entertained at mid-day and often outside. The picnic scenes he painted in the 1880’s show willowy figures in a shaded woods. The colors are intense, the brushwork is tight but the mood is relaxed. As Monet’s fame grew so did the number of visitors. They included artists, musicians, actors and politicians. Monet would abandon his work on these occasions and socialize with his friends in the beautiful setting he himself had created.