Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party

  Truly one of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's most beautiful images is this painting, "Luncheon of the Boating Party".   It is part of the permanent collection of the Phillips  Collection in Washington D.C. ; and  was painted between 1880 and 1881.
  Renoir is considered an artist of the Impressionist movement, taking easels out-of-doors to record people and places in a natural setting.  Here friends of Renoir's are gathered at a popular French restaurant on the Seine.  All of the people in the painting are known and their names can be found by a little research.  Renoir did the sketch on site, but then had each person pose at his studio so he could complete the likeness.   The woman on the far left with the little dog will become his wife soon after the painting was completed.
   Composition is reasonably simple.  The white tablecloth cements the foreground and the white shirts of four strategic people form a half circle around it.  The orange/red canopy seals the top, keeping the eye centered on the people, as does the simple flora in the rear. 
   Much of the work Renoir completes after this painting is softer in texture and content.  His brush work becomes looser and his palette lighter in tone, and women or children are often his subjects.  But here, in "Luncheon" I believe Renoir is at his finest.  The range of values (light to dark) and pure, clean colors help create a happy, beautiful scene - a joy to behold. 
   Make Art a part of your life, its a beautiful thing to do! 

Comments

  1. charguthAugust 27, 2019 at 5:25 PM

    One never tires of looking at this fabulous painting. What a treat to have seen it for real!! Every body is in a different position and looking in a different direction. The fellow sitting backwards on his chair gives the whole atmosphere a casual feeling, but the fashionable hats and dresses tell us these are not just ordinary people. I like the angle of the table and awning; it gives the picture more interest. This must have been a challenge, even for him, and a lengthy painting project. He almost allows us a seat at the table by bringing us into the picture.

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  2. JudithMarie5August 28, 2019 at 11:28 AM

    This truly is my only Renoir favorite...the lively composition, capturing people he knows, the 'candid' quality of the scene. The word masterpiece certainly fits this artwork. I have wondered IF photography was widely used at this particular time. To capture the festive setting and then go back to individual sittings in his studio would certainly make sense. Just some musings. Thank you, Pat, for giving us food for thought.

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