The Art Of Wine
/One of history's greatest pairings? Wine and art. They go together like Cabernet and steak. In fact, not just wine but drinking culture as a whole has been a prominent feature of some of the greatest artworks of our time. In the Art of Wine, we look at some of these artworks and their significance to us, the drinking class.
Garden at Sainte-Adresse - Claude Monet
Traveling with family. Sometimes it can be a spectacularly rewarding experience and sometimes... it can drive you to drink. Claude Monet offers us a first-hand look at his family trip to Sainte-Adresse, a seaside resort near Le Havre in his painting Garden at Sainte-Adresse. This painting is all about leisure at a nice resort with the ones you love and is one of the world's great examples of the vacationing drinking class.
The Characters
History tells us that the four people depicted in this painting are relatives of Claude Monet, with his father being situated in the front right wearing the straw hat. When I look at the painting though, I see a mother and father relaxing in the chairs at the bottom of the picture and a young couple, possibly the son and his wife, having a conversation down by the water. We'll look at the characters in this painting and determine how they fit into the scene.
Next up is mom. Hard to tell what she is doing tucked away under that parasol, but I can imagine her with a book or her knitting, quietly fretting about whether everyone is having a fun time, the way mothers sometimes do. The one thing we can tell is that her style and elegance are at home in the beautiful surroundings of the garden. She seems to be staring more at her son and his wife than at the water behind them. In my mind, she is having a champagne cocktail and is thinking about how proud she is of the man that he's become, and maybe wondering when the grandkids will arrive?
First up, the father. He is my favorite character in this painting because he looks so content. Any of us who have planned and executed a vacation have had this moment. Sitting in the chair, drink by your side and staring off into the beautiful scenery while surrounded by your family. I'm here, we've made it, it all worked out. This was totally worth it! There is a certain level of self pride one feels when being able to provide a scene like this for their family and I imagine him enjoying that moment now.
Lastly, there is the son and his wife. They are standing noticeably away from the parents at the front of the patio. Maybe hoping for some privacy? A quick moment to confide in one another about the stresses of parental expectations which are so often reinforced on these trips? Or possibly they are romantically dreaming of their own family vacations in the future once their kids come along? Personally, I think they are discussing getting out of the sun and going inside for a glass of Rosé and some oysters where they can steal a few minutes alone.
The Venue
The garden at Sainte- Addresse is a resort vacationers dream. A flower garden in full bloom right on the waters edge? Say no more. I'm in. This is the type of patio where you could easily spend an afternoon discussing the matters of the day, enjoy a bottle of sparkling wine, or getting lost in your vacation book you have been putting off for so long. When it comes to socially elevated outdoor drinking culture this is as good as it gets. The perfect place to catch up on some quality family time.
The Drinking Class
One of the best parts of the parent-child relationship comes when everyone is of age and you can take adult vacations together. That scotch tour your dad always wanted to do? That European city your mom has just been dying to go see? Now you can knock those out while enjoying the finest food and drinks the locale has to offer. Monet's Garden at Sainte-Addresse is a beautiful example of that relationship and the joys of getting to know one another as adults. Monet invites the members of the drinking class to call your parents, pack your bags, and enjoy some time spent as a family.
I had the good fortune recently of being able to visit this painting in person at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It was even more beautiful in person, and I encourage everyone to stop in for a visit if they get a chance.