Auguste Renoir once compared himself to a cork carried by the waves. That is how he felt during the creation of the next work. With alluring passion and tenderness, he completely surrendered to the raging "waves" that carried him through the unshakable expanses of the artistic world. Under such inspiration, Renoir's paintings were always born with a special charm. They never cluttered the minds of their viewers. On the contrary, looking at the works of the French author, fans of his talent, finally, could simply enjoy the rich shades, regular shapes and subjects of paintings close to themselves. Indeed, Auguste Renoir did not see himself among shocking works or deep philosophical canvases. Looking at the paintings of Renoir, it is safe to say that the author simply gave people a piece of beauty and uniqueness. And, perhaps, it is precisely these uncomplicated joys, reflected in the works of the author, that art lovers still like so much. The artist did not like tragic, heroic or dramatic subjects. This has always been enough in the everyday life of people, therefore, in the works of Auguste Renoir, beautiful landscapes, sparkling smiles of children, alluring bouquets of fragrant flowers and unique lines and shapes of full, naked women are vividly displayed. The French painter was convinced that any work should please with its attractiveness, cheerful and pleasant mood, and boring life stories should remain in the background. Well, Renoir successfully carried this idea through all his works. Each canvas, thanks to its bright and rich tones, gives a unique feeling of falling in love, falling in love with the world, people and the French author himself.

Pain passes but beauty remains

The title contains the words of the great French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This is another follower of the direction of the Impressionists, however, he did not write in this direction for a long time. But even this was enough to inscribe him in the annals of the great French. He is an amazing artist, with a great sense of space, light and color, which is important for any artist. In addition, he was a graphic artist and sculptor. And just like everyone else, he worked tirelessly, his legacy is huge. But how did he work? This is worth talking about.

In fact, since childhood, Renoir was predicted to be an excellent singer, he had an excellent voice. But Auguste sang sometimes, but still he was more attracted to the ability to draw. And so, to help his family, he gets a job in a workshop for painting porcelain plates, but in the evenings he always attended a painting school. Then he began to grow and, growing up, became more and more famous on the line of creativity. As an adult, he got married and had children. His work was evaluated quite well, and he worked constantly. But all this idyll was crossed out by one fall from a bicycle. Falling off him, Auguste broke his right arm. It would seem that an ordinary injury during a fall, but it was she who served as the impetus for the emergence of a more terrible disease - rheumatism. And he was almost no longer up to creativity. so it seemed to many, but not to himself. Overcoming the pain, he continued to work on the canvases. He no longer lived in Paris, his family moved to the provinces, and he began to work there. But soon something even more terrible happened - an attack of paralysis. And now, if earlier he could barely walk, now he was simply chained to a chair or bed.

His art has long been painted by all famous critics and art historians. And conditionally, his work is divided into three periods: Engro (“sour”, as the artist himself called him), mother-of-pearl (during this period he painted canvases under the impression of Velasquez, Rembrandt and Vermeer; this period was distinguished by iridescent colors) and finally, the red period ( almost all the canvases of this period are red or pink). What is most interesting is that all the paintings written in these three periods of a completely different genre are really different and therefore constantly arouse interest.

Henri Matisse, the famous French artist, was very friendly with Renoir and visited him almost every day. Every day he saw how, overcoming pain, Auguste painted his canvases. He almost constantly grimaced in pain and even cried, but still painted. While he was still able to walk, and was in a more or less normal condition, he was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor, this is the highest award of the French state. But now he was not able to hold a brush well in his hands, and yet he created. The words in the title were said in response to Matisse's question: “Why do you need all this? Leave creativity, it’s hard for you.” Renoir could not answer otherwise. Every morning the nurse put a brush into his frozen hands and moved him to the canvas, and he painted. For many, this is a feat, for some it seems like a show, but for Renoir it was a way to survive, or rather live. The painting "Umbrellas", which he created in 1917, was honored with its appearance in the Louvre. And the artist was able to see it, then he was still walking. But the great artist died not at all from rheumatism, but from pneumonia, which he accidentally picked up.

For a fairly long life, he managed to create a large number of paintings and sculptures. And all this is now exhibited not only in the Louvre, but also in other equally famous museums in the world.

Alexey Vasin

Pierre Auguste Renoir (fr. Pierre-Auguste Renoir). Born February 25, 1841 in Limoges - died December 3, 1919 in Cagnes-sur-Mer. French painter, graphic artist and sculptor, one of the main representatives of impressionism. Renoir is known primarily as a master of secular portraiture, he was the first of the Impressionists to find success with wealthy Parisians. In the mid 1880s. actually broke with impressionism, returning to the linearity of classicism, to engrism. Father of the famous director Jean Renoir.

Auguste Renoir was born on February 25, 1841 in Limoges, a city located in the south of Central France.

Renoir was the 6th child of 7 children of the poor tailor Leonard Renoir (1799-1874) and his wife Marguerite (1807-1896).

In 1844, the Renoirs moved to Paris, and here Auguste entered the church choir at the large Cathedral of Saint-Eustache. He had such a voice that the choir director, Charles Gounod, tried to convince the boy's parents to send him to study music. However, in addition to this, Auguste showed the gift of an artist, and when he was 13 years old, he began to help his family by getting a job with a master, from whom he learned to paint porcelain plates and other dishes. In the evenings, Auguste attended a painting school.

In early 1862, Renoir passed the exams at the School of Fine Arts at the Academy of Arts and enrolled in Gleyre's studio. There he met with Fantin-Latour, Sisley, Basil and. Soon they became friends with Cezanne and Pissarro, so the backbone of the future Impressionist group was formed.

In his early years, Renoir was influenced by the work of the Barbizons, Corot, Prudhon, Delacroix and Courbet.

In 1864, Gleyre closed the workshop, the training ended. Renoir began to paint his first canvases and then for the first time presented the painting "Esmeralda dancing among the tramps" to the Salon. She was accepted, but when the canvas was returned to him, the author destroyed it.

Having chosen genres for his works in those years, he did not change them until the end of his life. This is a landscape - "Jules le Coeur in the Forest of Fontainebleau" (1866), everyday scenes - "The Frog" (1869), "Pont Neuf" (1872), still life - "Spring Bouquet" (1866), "Still Life with a Bouquet and a Fan" (1871), portrait - "Lisa with an umbrella" (1867), "Odalisque" (1870), nude - "Diana the huntress" (1867).

In 1865, at the house of his friend, the painter Jules Le Coeur, he met a 16-year-old girl Lisa Treo, which soon became Renoir's lover and his favorite model.

In 1870, their daughter Jeanne Marguerite was born, although Renoir refused to acknowledge his paternity officially. Their relationship continued until 1872, when Lisa left Renoir and married another.

Renoir's creative career was interrupted in 1870-1871, when he was drafted into the army during the Franco-Prussian war, which ended in a crushing defeat for France.

In 1872, Renoir and his friends created "Anonymous cooperative partnership".

The first exhibition of the partnership opened on April 15, 1874. Renoir presented pastel and six paintings, among which were "Dancer" and "Lodge" (both - 1874). The exhibition ended in failure members of the partnership received an insulting nickname - "impressionists".

Despite poverty, it was during these years that the artist created his main masterpieces: Grands Boulevards (1875), Walk (1875), Ball at the Moulin de la Galette (1876), Nude (1876), Nude in the Sunlight" (1876), "Swing" (1876), "First Departure" (1876/1877), "Path in the Tall Grass" (1877).

Renoir gradually ceased to participate in exhibitions of the Impressionists. In 1879, he presented the full-figure Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary (1878) and Portrait of Madame Charpentier with Children (1878) to the Salon in 1879 and achieved universal recognition, and after that financial independence.

He continued to paint new canvases - in particular, the famous Clichy Boulevard (1880), Rowers' Breakfast (1881), On the Terrace (1881), which became famous. Renoir traveled to Algeria, then to Italy, where he became closely acquainted with the works of the Renaissance classics, after which his artistic taste changed. Ingres was the source of inspiration during this period, so art historians call this period in the artist's work "Ingres".

Renoir himself called this period "sour". He painted a series of paintings "Dance in the country" (1882/1883), "Dance in the city" (1883), "Dance in Bougival" (1883), as well as such canvases as "In the Garden" (1885) and "Umbrellas" (1881/1886), where the impressionist past is still visible, but Renoir's new approach to painting is manifested: the environment is painted in an impressionistic manner, the figures are outlined with clear lines.

The most famous work of this period is "Big bathers"(1884/1887). For the construction of the composition, the author first used sketches and sketches. The lines of the drawing became clear and defined. The colors lost their former brightness and saturation, the painting as a whole began to look more restrained and colder. Posed for this work: Alina Sharigo - the artist's wife and Suzanne Valadon - Renoir's model and artist, mother of Maurice Utrillo.

In 1890, Renoir married Aline Charigot., whom he had met ten years earlier when she was a 21-year-old seamstress. They already had a son, Pierre, born in 1885, and after the wedding they had two more sons - Jean, born in 1894, and Claude (known as "Coco"), born in 1901 and became one of the most beloved models father.

By the time his family was finally formed, Renoir had achieved success and fame, was recognized as one of the leading artists of France and managed to receive the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the state.

In 1892, Durand-Ruel opened a large exhibition of paintings by Renoir, which was a great success. Recognition also came from government officials - the painting "Girls at the Piano" (1892) was purchased for the Luxembourg Museum.

Renoir traveled to Spain, where he got acquainted with the work of Velasquez and Goya.

In the early 90s, new changes took place in Renoir art. In a picturesque manner, an iridescence of color appeared, which is why this period is sometimes called "mother-of-pearl".

At this time, Renoir painted such paintings as "Apples and Flowers" (1895/1896), "Spring" (1897), "Son Jean" (1900), "Portrait of Mrs. Gaston Bernheim" (1901). He traveled to the Netherlands, where he was interested in the paintings of Vermeer and Rembrandt.

The "pearl" period gave way to the "red", so named because of the preference for shades of reddish and pink flowers.

Renoir continued to paint sunny landscapes, still lifes with bright colors, portraits of his children, naked women, created A Walk (1906), Portrait of Ambroise Vollard (1908), Gabriel in a Red Blouse (1910), Bouquet of Roses "(1909/1913)," Woman with a mandolin "(1919).

Renoir's personal happiness and professional success were overshadowed by illness. In 1897, Renoir broke his right arm after falling off his bicycle. As a result, he developed rheumatism, from which he suffered for the rest of his life. Rheumatism made it difficult for Renoir to live in Paris, and in 1903 the Renoir family moved to an estate called "Colette" in the small town of Cagnes-sur-Mer.

After an attack of paralysis that occurred in 1912, despite two surgical operations, Renoir was confined to a wheelchair, but continued to write with a brush that a nurse put between his fingers.

In the last years of his life, Renoir gained fame and universal recognition. In 1917, when he "Umbrellas" were exhibited at the London National Gallery, hundreds of British artists and just art lovers sent him congratulations, which said: “From the moment your painting was hung in the same row with the works of the old masters, we experienced the joy that our contemporary took its proper place in European painting.

Renoir's painting was also exhibited at the Louvre, and in August 1919 the artist visited Paris for the last time to look at it. On December 2, 1919, Pierre-Auguste Renoir died in Cagnes-sur-Mer from pneumonia at the age of 78. Buried in Essua.

Pierre Auguste Renoir (French Pierre-Auguste Renoir; February 25, 1841, Limoges - December 2, 1919, Cagnes-sur-Mer) - French painter, graphic artist and sculptor, one of the main representatives of impressionism. Renoir is known primarily as a master of a secular portrait, not devoid of sentimentality; he was the first of the Impressionists to win success with wealthy Parisians. In the mid 1880s. actually broke with impressionism, returning to the linearity of classicism, to engrism. The father of the famous director.

Auguste Renoir was born on February 25, 1841 in Limoges, a city located in the south of Central France. Renoir was the sixth child of a poor tailor named Leonard and his wife, Marguerite.
In 1844, the Renoirs moved to Paris, and here Auguste entered the church choir at the great Cathedral of Saint-Eustache. He had such a voice that the choir director, Charles Gounod, tried to convince the boy's parents to send him to study music. However, in addition to this, Auguste showed the gift of an artist, and when he was 13 years old, he began to help his family by getting a job with a master, from whom he learned to paint porcelain plates and other dishes. In the evenings, Auguste attended a painting school.

"Dance at Bougival" (1883), Boston Museum of Fine Arts

In 1865, at the house of his friend, the artist Jules Le Coeur, he met a 16-year-old girl, Lisa Treo, who soon became Renoir's lover and his favorite model. In 1870, their daughter Jeanne Marguerite was born, although Renoir refused to acknowledge his paternity officially. Their relationship continued until 1872, when Lisa left Renoir and married another.
Renoir's creative career was interrupted in 1870-1871, when he was drafted into the army during the Franco-Prussian war, which ended in a crushing defeat for France.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alina Charigot, 1885, Museum of Art, Philadelphia

In 1890, Renoir married Alina Charigot, whom he had met ten years earlier when she was a 21-year-old seamstress. They already had a son, Pierre, born in 1885, and after the wedding they had two more sons - Jean, born in 1894, and Claude (known as "Coco"), born in 1901 and became one of the most beloved models father.

By the time his family was finally formed, Renoir had achieved success and fame, was recognized as one of the leading artists of France and managed to receive the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor from the state.

Renoir's personal happiness and professional success were overshadowed by illness. In 1897, Renoir broke his right arm after falling off his bicycle. As a result, he developed rheumatism, from which he suffered for the rest of his life. Rheumatism made it difficult for Renoir to live in Paris, and in 1903 the Renoir family moved to an estate called "Colette" in the small town of Cagnes-sur-Mer.
After an attack of paralysis that occurred in 1912, despite two surgical operations, Renoir was chained to a wheelchair, but continued to paint with a brush that a nurse put between his fingers.

In the last years of his life, Renoir gained fame and universal recognition. In 1917, when his "Umbrellas" were exhibited at the London National Gallery, hundreds of British artists and ordinary art lovers sent him congratulations, which said: "From the moment your painting was hung in the same row with the works of the old masters, we experienced the joy that our contemporary took his rightful place in European painting. Renoir's painting was also exhibited at the Louvre, and in August 1919 the artist visited Paris for the last time to look at it.

On December 3, 1919, Pierre-Auguste Renoir died in Cagnes-sur-Mer from pneumonia at the age of 78. Buried in Essua.

Marie-Félix Hippolyte-Lucas (1854-1925) - portrait by Renoir 1919

1862-1873 Choice of genres

"Spring Bouquet" (1866). Museum of Harvard University.

In early 1862, Renoir passed the exams at the School of Fine Arts at the Academy of Arts and enrolled in Gleyre's studio. There he met Fantin-Latour, Sisley, Basil and Claude Monet. Soon they became friends with Cezanne and Pizarro, so the backbone of the future Impressionist group was formed.
In his early years, Renoir was influenced by the work of the Barbizons, Corot, Prudhon, Delacroix and Courbet.
In 1864, Gleyre closed the workshop, the training ended. Renoir began to paint his first canvases and then for the first time presented the painting "Esmeralda dancing among the tramps" to the Salon. She was accepted, but when the canvas was returned to him, the author destroyed it.
Having chosen genres for his works in those years, he did not change them until the end of his life. This is a landscape - "Jules le Coeur in the Forest of Fontainebleau" (1866), everyday scenes - "The Frog" (1869), "Pont Neuf" (1872), still life - "Spring Bouquet" (1866), "Still Life with a Bouquet and a Fan" (1871), portrait - "Lisa with an umbrella" (1867), "Odalisque" (1870), nude - "Diana the huntress" (1867).
In 1872, Renoir and his friends created the Anonymous Cooperative Partnership.

1874-1882 Struggle for recognition

"Ball at the Moulin de la Galette" (1876). Musée d'Orsay.

The first exhibition of the partnership opened on April 15, 1874. Renoir presented pastels and six paintings, among which were "Dancer" and "Lodge" (both - 1874). The exhibition ended in failure, and the members of the partnership received an insulting nickname - "Impressionists".
Despite poverty, it was during these years that the artist created his main masterpieces: Grands Boulevards (1875), Walk (1875), Ball at the Moulin de la Galette (1876), Nude (1876), Nude in the Sunlight" (1876), "Swing" (1876), "First Departure" (1876/1877), "Path in the Tall Grass" (1877).
Renoir gradually ceased to participate in exhibitions of the Impressionists. In 1879, he presented the full-figure Portrait of the Actress Jeanne Samary (1878) and Portrait of Madame Charpentier with Children (1878) to the Salon in 1879 and achieved universal recognition, and after that financial independence. He continued to write new canvases - in particular, the famous "Clichy Boulevard" (1880), "Breakfast of the Rowers" (1881), "On the Terrace" (1881), which became famous.

1883-1890 "Engrov period"

"Big bathers" (1884-1887). Museum of Art, Philadelphia.

Renoir traveled to Algeria, then to Italy, where he became closely acquainted with the works of the Renaissance classics, after which his artistic taste changed. Renoir painted a series of paintings "Dance in the Village" (1882/1883), "Dance in the City" (1883), "Dance in Bougival" (1883), as well as such canvases as "In the Garden" (1885) and "Umbrellas" (1881/1886), where the impressionist past is still visible, but Renoir's new approach to painting appears.
The so-called "Ingres period" opens. The most famous work of this period is The Great Bathers (1884/1887). For the construction of the composition, the author first used sketches and sketches. The lines of the drawing became clear and defined. The colors lost their former brightness and saturation, the painting as a whole began to look more restrained and colder.

1891-1902 "Pearl period"

"Girls at the Piano" (1892). Musee d'Orsay.

In 1892, Durand-Ruel opened a large exhibition of paintings by Renoir, which was a great success. Recognition also came from government officials - the painting "Girls at the Piano" (1892) was purchased for the Luxembourg Museum.
Renoir traveled to Spain, where he got acquainted with the work of Velasquez and Goya.
In the early 90s, new changes took place in Renoir art. In a picturesque manner, an iridescence of color appeared, which is why this period is sometimes called "mother-of-pearl".
At this time, Renoir painted such paintings as "Apples and Flowers" (1895/1896), "Spring" (1897), "Son Jean" (1900), "Portrait of Mrs. Gaston Bernheim" (1901). He traveled to the Netherlands, where he was interested in the paintings of Vermeer and Rembrandt.

1903-1919 "Red Period"

"Gabriel in a red blouse" (1910). Collection of M. Wertem, New York.

The "pearl" period gave way to the "red", so named because of the preference for shades of reddish and pink flowers.
Renoir continued to paint sunny landscapes, still lifes with bright colors, portraits of his children, naked women, created A Walk (1906), Portrait of Ambroise Vollard (1908), Gabriel in a Red Blouse (1910), Bouquet of Roses "(1909/1913)," Woman with a mandolin "(1919).

In the film "Amelie" the neighbor of the main character Ramon Dufael has been making copies of Renoir's painting "Breakfast of the Rowers" for 10 years.
A close friend of Auguste Renoir was Henri Matisse, who was almost 28 years his junior. When O. Renoir was essentially bedridden due to illness, A. Matisse visited him every day. Renoir, almost paralyzed by arthritis, overcoming pain, continued to paint in his studio. Once, watching the pain with which each stroke of the brush is given to him, Matisse could not stand it and asked: “Auguste, why don’t you leave painting, are you suffering so much?” Renoir limited himself to only the answer: “La douleur passe, la beauté reste” (Pain passes, but beauty remains). And this was the whole Renoir, who worked until his last breath.

Pierre Auguste Renoir (February 25, 1841, Limoges - December 2, 1919, Cagnes-sur-Mer) - French painter, graphic artist and sculptor, one of the main representatives of impressionism.

Biography of Pierre Auguste Renoir

Born in 1841 in the south of France, in a poor, large family. From an early age, the boy showed amazing abilities in painting. From childhood, he earned money for the family by painting chinaware, and attended art school in the evenings.

In 1862, Renoir successfully passed the exams and entered the School of Fine Arts, where he met Basil, Claude Monet, Pissarro.

His longtime mistress Lisa Treo marries and leaves the artist. It was during this period that the painter met the main love of his life - the young seamstress Alina Sharigo.

Having survived several emotional breakups and reunions, the couple got married in 1890, when the first son of Renoir and Alina was already 5 years old.

These years of cloudless family happiness were the best period of Renoir's life.

In 1897, due to complications from a broken arm, his health deteriorated rapidly.

Father of the famous director Jean Renoir.

Renoir died in 1919 from pneumonia, until the last day he continued to work in his studio.

Creativity Renoir

All of them were carried away by a new trend - impressionism, but it was Renoir who became the first successful artist who earned fame and considerable capital by creating paintings in this manner.

All his life, even when seriously ill, he did not let go of the brush from his hand.

His work was interrupted only once, when in 1870 the artist was drafted into the army to participate in the Franco-Prussian campaign.

Returning unharmed after the defeat of the French troops, he set to work with the same zeal, creating, together with like-minded friends, the Anonymous Cooperative Partnership and resuming both business and personal relationships with his beloved model Lisa Treo.

Having gained fame as a talented impressionist, Renoir in the mid-1890s enters a new stage in his life.

He gradually loses interest in impressionism, increasingly returning to the classics in his works. The artist suffered from rheumatism, but even being confined to a wheelchair, he continued to create new masterpieces.

Renoir is known primarily as a master of a secular portrait, not devoid of sentimentality; he was the first of the Impressionists to win success with wealthy Parisians.

In the mid 1880s. actually broke with impressionism, returning to the linearity of classicism, to engrism.

• In the film "Amelie" the neighbor of the main character Ramon Dufael has been making copies of Renoir's painting "Breakfast of the Rowers" for 10 years.

• A close friend of Auguste Renoir was Henri Matisse, who was almost 28 years his junior. When O. Renoir was essentially bedridden due to illness, A. Matisse visited him every day. Renoir, almost paralyzed by arthritis, overcoming pain, continued to paint in his studio. Once, watching the pain with which each stroke of the brush is given to him, Matisse could not stand it and asked: “Auguste, why don’t you leave painting, are you suffering so much?” Renoir limited himself to only the answer: “La douleur passe, la beauté reste” (Pain passes, but beauty remains). And this was the whole Renoir, who worked until his last breath.