Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Born on February 25, 1841, in Limoges, Pierre-Auguste Renoir was the son of a tailor who moved his family to Paris when Pierre was just four. As a young teenager, he got his start painting porcelain—a craft that helped him develop a lifelong eye for color and elegance. In 1861, he joined the studio of Charles Gleyre, where he met his future friends and fellow artistic rebels: Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, and Frédéric Bazille. Renoir was a key part of the first-ever Impressionist exhibition in 1874 and became one of the movement’s most beloved figures, celebrated for paintings that practically glow with warmth and the simple joys of Parisian life.

While many of his Impressionist friends focused on landscapes, Renoir always had a soft spot for people, especially women and children. He used soft, expressive brushwork and a beautiful palette of rosy pinks, golds, and vibrant blues to bring his subjects to life. Masterpieces like Luncheon of the Boating Party and Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette remain some of the most famous images in the world. Even in his later years, when severe arthritis confined him to a wheelchair, Renoir never lost his passion. At his home in Cagnes-sur-Mer, he continued to paint with brushes strapped to his hands until he passed away on December 3, 1919.