CONTAINING REPRODUCTIONS AND ANALYSIS OF OVER 120 MAJOR WORKS, BOTH FAMOUS AND LITtLE-KNOWN,AND COMPLETE WITH A GENEROUS SELECTION OF VISUAL DOCUMENTS ABOUT THE PAINTER， THIS MONOGRAPH ON AUGUSTE RENOIR TAKES A CHRONOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE LIFE OF ONE OF THE LEADING FIGURES NOT ONLY OF IMPRESSIONISM BUT OF MODERN PAINTING IN GENERAL.

THE SON OF A TAILOR, RENOIR BEGAN WORKING AS A PORCELAIN PAINTER AT THE AGE OF 13. IN 1863 HE MET MONET, SISLEY AND BAZILLE AND ACCOMPANIED THEM ON THE PAINTING EXPEDITIONS TO THE FOREST AT FONTAINEBLEAU THAT PAVED THE WAY FOR IMPRESSIONISM. LATER, PREFERRING MELDED BRUSHSTROKES TO A MORE DIVISIONIST APPROACH, HE MOVED AWAY FROM IMPRESSIONISM AND ADOPTED A STYLE INSPIRED BY THE CLASSICAL TRADITION. BEGUILED BY THE LIGHT OF THE SOUTH, RENOIR EXPRESSED HIS SENSUAL LOVE OF LIFE IN JOYOUS PAINTINGS THAT EVOKE HIS PERSONAL WORLD. FEATURING COPIOUS QUOTATIONS,THIS BIOGRAPHY SETS OUT TO OFFER A VIVID, INSIDE VIEW OF HIS LIFE AND CREATIVE PROCESSES.

1841-1871

emergence

of a great artist

1872-1883

the Impressionist years

1883-1887

the "harsh period":

the break with

Impressionism

1888-1919

the years of illness

and the last masterpieces

conclusion