Renoir’s, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880-81, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC
Happy Birthday Renoir! He was a French painter and pioneer in the Impressionist painting style and is best known for his painting of feminine beauty and nudes. One of his most famous paintings, Luncheon of the Boating Party, painted in 1880-81, can be seen at The Phillips Collection in Washington DC. I can recall the first time I saw the painting in person there. I had seen prints of this amazing painting all my life but when you walk into the gallery and see it hanging it is an overwhelming experience. It’s very large, for one thing, and the colors are just gorgeous and no matter how many reproductions you see of it you have to see it in person to truly appreciate its beauty.
Renoir’s, The Large Bathers, 1887, Philadelphia Museum of Art
The last twenty years of his life he experienced severe arthritis and often had his brushes strapped to his hand so he could continue to paint.
He was a prolific artist painting several thousand paintings, many that featured the warm sensuality of style he made famous. Most people recognize his work as it is one of the most well-known and frequently reproduced works in the history of art. The single largest collection of his works—181 paintings in all—is at the Barnes Foundation in Philly. Read more about it here.
Happy Birthday Renoir. We do so appreciate the beauty you have brought to us!
The Studio 