funds. Jeanne-Claude died in New York City on November 18, 2009, from complications due to a brain aneurysm. Her body was to be donated to science, one of her final wishes. When she died, she and Christo were at work on Over the River and the United Arab Emirates project, The Mastaba. She said, "Artists don't retire. They die. That's all. When they stop being able to create art, they die." Marriage Christo and Jeanne-Claude met in October 1958 when he was commissioned to paint a portrait of her mother, Précilda de Guillebon. Initially, Christo was attracted to Jeanne-Claude's half-sister, Joyce. Jeanne-Claude was engaged to Philippe Planchon. Shortly before her wedding, Jeanne-Claude became pregnant by Christo. Although she married Planchon, Jeanne-Claude left him immediately after their honeymoon. Christo and Jeanne-Claude's son, Cyril, was born on May 11, 1960. See also Land art Notes Bibliography This article is based on a translation of the corresponding article from the German Wikipedia, accessed on May 3, 2005, with additional material on the Over the River project from the artists' website and newspapers. Further reading The early work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Matthias Koddenberg, Christo: The Paris Sculptures 1961, Kettler Verlag, Bönen, Germany 2011 Matthias Koddenberg, Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Early Works 1958–64, Kettler Verlag, Bönen, Germany 2009 Matthias Koddenberg, "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Realism's Newly Unveiled Face", in: Nouveau Réalisme, exh. cat. Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, Vienna, Austria 2005 David Bourdon, Christo, Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1971 Specific projects of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wark, Wesley K., Christo: A New Work in Miami / An Imaginary Visit to Scotland, in Cencrastus No. 9, Summer 1982, pp. 10 - 12, Anne L. Strauss, Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979–2005, Taschen Verlag, Cologne, Germany 2005 Christo: 5.600 Cubicmeter Package, Verlag Wort und Bild, Baierbrunn, Germany 1968 Five Films about Christo & Jeanne-Claude: A Maysles Films Production, New York: Plexifilm, 2004. Life and work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Matthias Koddenberg, Christo and Jeanne-Claude: In/Out Studio, D.A.P., New York, 2015 Christo and Jeanne-Claude: 40 Years – 12 Exhibitions, exh. cat. Annely Juda Fine Art, London, Great Britain 2011 Jacob Baal-Teshuva, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Taschen Verlag, Cologne, Germany 2005 Burt Chernow, Christo and Jeanne-Claude: A Biography, St. Martin's Press, New York, 2002 External links Art duos American installation artists Contemporary sculptors French contemporary artists Married couples Nouveau réalisme artists Recipients of the Praemium