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PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR
b. February 25, 1841 d. December 3, 1919
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was an impressionistic painter of 'real life', which included brilliant color and light. Later in his life, his paintings became more disciplined and formal, involving more portraits of women. Renoir began as a painter in a porcelain factory at the age of 14 in Paris, where he learned the impressionistic style and the importance of craftmanship. He enjoyed light-hearted themes, many of which were done while in Louvre. He befriended other artists while there, including Claude Monet (1840-1926), Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) and Frederic Bazille (1841-1870). Renoir's classic impressionistic style is seen mainly in his early works- primarily the paintings he had done at a place called La Grenouillere. It wasn't until the 1870's that he became an artist without financial worries, thanks to an art dealer by the name of Paul Durand-Ruel, who purchased his paintings on a regular basis. He once told Durand-Ruel- "I want to paint stunning pictures that you can sell for very high prices". While Renoir moved away from the impressionistic style of painting during a visit to Italy in 1881, one of his paintings, entitled, 'The Umbrellas', is seen as a beginning of that change. It has been said that the painting reflects two styles- it began with impressionism and was finished with crisper, cleaner strokes.
Renoir much preferred his subjects to be that of mature, ample women. But, he also enjoyed painting the sights of Paris. His works usually consisted of models and friends of the artist. In 1880, he married one of his favorite models, Aline Charigot (d.1915). They had three sons, one of whom became a famed movie director, Jean Renoir (1894-1979).
In 1912, Renoir became confined to a wheelchair due to arthritis, but it didn't stop him from painting, which he continued until his death. He would tape a brush to his hand so that he could paint. He also took up sculpting, having his assistants act as his 'hands'.
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