With his belief that art should be pretty, the French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir is one of the most celebrated artists of the Impressionist movement.
Renoir was born on February 25, 1841. The sixth child in a working-class family, Renoir left school to work at a Parisian porcelain factory when he was 13. Already displaying obvious talent, Renoir was assigned the task of painting the porcelain. Renoir was also granted permission to copy works of art at the Louvre, and so as a young man, he visited the museum regularly to observe the paintings of the 18th-century French masters.
When Renoir was 20, he began studying with a Swiss painter named Charles Gleyre. At Gleyres studio, Renoir worked with Claude Monet and other artists who became both his friends and mentors. Believing the old style of painting to be too stiff and formal, this group of young artists began painting outdoors and experimented with vivid colors and light. They developed what would be known as Impressionism, and it eventually revolutionized the art world. But, it would be several years before their genius was recognized. Renoir struggled to make ends meet in his early years as an artist, sometimes not having enough money even to buy paint. He enjoyed small success in the 1870s as a portrait artist, and in 1881, an art dealer began buying many of his works, bringing Renoir both fame and fortune. At this time, his artistic style began to change as well, and Renoir returned to more classical works.
Renoir died on December 3, 1919. Though hed been stricken with rheumatoid arthritis since the 1890s, the artist continued to create until his death. In fact, even after being confined to a wheelchair in 1912, Renoir spent his last years both painting and using his assistants to sculpt new works of art.
Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and other education-related companies. Sources: August Renoir Gallery; Artelino Art Auctions: Biography of Auguste Renoir; Web Museum: Pierre-Auguste Renoir; Wikipedia Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
