FAMOUS ARTIST BIRTHDAY - PIERRE AUGUSTE RENOIR - IMPRESSIONIST

I will probably be criticized for this, but Renoir is not one of my favourite painters. I can't quite put my finger on it, but his style seems a bit too sweet, perhaps reminiscent of the overly romantic Baroque style. Nonetheless, I did enjoy studying his style.

PIERRE AUGUSTE RENOIR

Born in Limoges, France, 25 February 1841

He was the son of poor tailor and at an early age he was sent to a porcelain factory to learn a trade. So he started work as a Limoges porcelain painter, and there may be Limoges plates or candy dishes out in the world that bear his brushwork.

As an artist, his early work was influenced by Gustav Courbet. He was freinds with Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Frederick Bazille and he even painted with Monet in Bougival in 1869. He exhibited alongside the Impressionists in 1874,1876, 1877 and 1882.

In 1870 Renoir became a Cuirassier in the Franco-Prussian War and perhaps that inspired a certain wander lust, because he painted in many locations including Bougival, Argenteuil, Cagnes, Algeria, and Italy. In 1888, he began spending his winters in the south of France.

HE EXHIBITED AT THE FIRST IMPRESSIONIST EXHIBITION

Died 3 December 1919 in Cagnes, France