Renoir, born on February 25, 1841, in Limoges,
in central France, was one of France’s leading Impressionist
artists. As son of a tailor and dressmaker, at the age of
13 he was apprenticed to a painter of factory-made porcelain.
He also began painting fans and blinds, and in the meantime,
attended evening drawing classes. At M.C. Gleyre’s studio,
he met Monet, Bazille
and Sisley, with whom he formed lasting friendships. They
would later form the core of the artistic movement known as
Impressionism, and the four of them enjoyed many afternoons
painting outdoors in the Forests of Fontainebleau. In his
very early work, the influences of Courbet,
Manet, Corot, Ingres and Delacroix
are evident.
Financially, things became difficult for artists
during the time of and immediately after the Franco-Prussian
War of 1870-1871. Renoir served in the army during the war
and later turned to painting portraits as this was relatively
well paid. He was a person who put his sitters at ease throughout
the painting sessions and was well liked. In the early 1880’s
Renoir travelled to Italy and Algeria and upon his return
to Paris, exhibited his works successfully, which stabilized
his financial situation.
Unfortunately, in his later years, Renoir began developing
rheumatism and arthritis. This got worse after having broken
his arm riding a bicycle and he began spending his winters
on the French Riviera. In 1903 he moved there permanently,
purchasing an estate in the proximity of Nice. Later confined
to a wheelchair, he continued to paint as much as he could
and also explored with sculptures. Renoir died on December
3, 1919, aged 78, and his house has been turned into a museum
dedicated to the painter’s memory. His son and filmmaker,
Jean Renoir, made a biography of his father in 1962.
Some of Renoir’s well known pieces include:
Madame Charpentier and her Children
The Swing
Moulin de la Galette
The Bathers
Luncheon of the Boating Party
Dance at Bougival
Lady Sewing
Bather
Le Bal au Moulin de le Galette
Woman with Fan
Lunch at the Restaurant Fournaise
Girl with a Watering Can
Jeanne Samary
Acrobats at the Circus Fernando
On the Terrace
La Loge
