The great master of Impressionism moved to Giverny after the death of his wife Camille to live with Alice Hoschedé, also a widow, and their respective children. Claude Monet drew his inspiration as a painter from the banks of the Seine and its gardens. At a time when he was having difficulty securing a loyal audience and clientele, his move to Giverny was a major turning point. There, Monet painted his most famous masterpieces, including the Nympheas series, which brought him financial ease. Claude Monet lived in Giverny until his death in 1926. In the 1960s, his son Michel bequeathed the property to the Académie des beaux-arts.