Bazille’s stint at medical college wasn’t a total bust.

He may have failed his exams, but it wasn’t because he was incapable. As for Bazille, he simply wanted to paint canvases, not cut people open. In the summer of 1865, Monet injured his leg at the village of Chailly on one of his painting expeditions. Coincidentally, Bazille arrived at the scene to nurse his friend back to life. That weird contraption holding up Monet’s leg was designed by Bazille himself. 

Monet was poor at the time and really needed a model. He begged for Frederic Bazille to come down and pose for him, pestering him for months. But by the time Bazille finally arrived, Monet was bedridden. 

Bazille and Monet were in an abusive relationship, with the latter doing the abusing. It’s no surprise that Monet was an unpleasant man. He always made sure to tell his friends and followers that he was better than them. He would often hound Bazille for being a lesser painter than him, hurl abuses at him, and then force him to pay his rent and buy his paintings. Monet was using Bazille. He knew that, of course. That’s why this painting is so hysterical, Bazille finally got back at the pioneering impressionist.

Claude Monet lies motionless on his bed, looking a little annoyed. He had been working on Luncheon on the Grass, inspired by Manet’s Luncheon. Frederic was thrilled that Monet needed him. He told his father, “Monet awaits me, as if I was his Messiah." You were a lot more than that to him, Bazille. You were his sugar daddy.