Art Guide · Painters
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
1841–1919
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) was a French painter and one of the founders of Impressionism, known for his sunlit crowd scenes, warm-skinned figures and joyful atmosphere.
Last updated: · Iconica Society editors
Life
Born in Limoges, the son of a tailor, he grew up in Paris and worked as a porcelain painter in his youth. In Gleyre’s studio he met Monet, Sisley and Bazille, and he took part in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874.
After a trip to Italy in the 1880s he entered a phase with greater emphasis on line and form. In later life rheumatoid arthritis twisted his hands, yet he kept painting until his death. His son Jean Renoir became a celebrated film director.
Style and key works
Renoir applied Impressionist light to people: sunlight filtering through leaves, couples dancing, friends talking. Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876, Musée d’Orsay) and Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880–81, Phillips Collection, Washington) are emblems of this joyful world.
Key works
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Frequently asked questions
What is Renoir’s most famous painting?
Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876) and Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880–81) are his two best-known works.
Where is Luncheon of the Boating Party?
At the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.