Pierre-Auguste Renoir

            

  Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty, and especially feminine sensuality, it has been said that "Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to Watteau."

  Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges, France, on February 25^th, 1841. He began painting at the age of 13 when he found a job as a porcelain painter in a Parisian factory, creating flower designs on China.

  In around 1860, Renoir joined the studio of the Swiss artist Charles Gleyre and met fellow students Monet, Bazille, and Sisley, all of whom went on to lead the Impressionist movement. In 1869 Renoir spent time sketching with Monet on the Seine river banks and it was during this time that they developed the famous technique and bright colors that defined the Impressionist movement. Like many artists, Renoir endured difficulties in his early career, but turned this around as a portraitist in the late 1870s.

 In 1881 Renoirs trip to Italy opened his eyes to the works of Raphael, Velazquez, and Rubens and afterwards he was keen to experiment with a more traditional style. His later paintings, including The Umbrellas, are evidently more linear. Renoirs subjects also shifted from contemporary themes to more timeless ones, particularly nudes.

 After marrying Aline Charigot in 1890, Renoir welcomed three sons into the world between 1885 and 1901: Pierre, Jean, and Claude. In 1887, he completed a series of works of a group of nude female figures known as The Bathers. He continued painting until the end of his life and even took up sculpture despite suffering from rheumatism. Renoir died On December 3rd 1919 at his house in Cagne, aged seventy-eight.

          Pierre-Auguste Renoir Style and Technique

     Renoir´s paintings are easily identifiable by their use of bright colors and bold lines. Experimenting with a more classical style in his later years, Renoir developed his own technique which fused his trademark sunny, optimistic outlook with bold, contrasting lines.

     Renoir´s early works captured real life scenarios and his themes were always pleasant and non-serious. A master at depicting facial expressions, Renoir tended to paint youthful portraits of his associates, most of whom were artists and writers. It´s believed that Renoir used just five colors in his palette and his time as a porcelain painter taught him how to successfully combine different colors. Impressionism was very much defined by its use of light colors and it was a style based on quick brush strokes, but a trip to Italy introduced Renoir to the work of the Renaissance artists Raphael, Velazquez, and Rubens and this inspired him to change his technique and experiment with a more decorative and traditional style. Consequently, his subsequent paintings became more linear.

     Towards the end of his career, Renoir´s style changed again and he opted for stronger colors - often reds and oranges - and thick brush strokes. The female nude was a favorite subject and he depicted details of the scene through freely-brushed spots of color which fused his figures and their surroundings. 

            Famous pictures:

Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette (1876)

Portrait of the actress Jeanne Samary (1878)

Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880–1881)

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