Renoir, his life, art, and letters

the long version

This volume contrasts the life of the French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) -- his personal struggles against crippling arthritis and the disfavor of Renoir's patrons when he developed a new style -- with the flood of expression that his paintings revealed. With 391 illustrations this book covers the full scope of Renoir's work, from paintings and watercolors to sketches and drawings, including portraiture, landscapes, and still lives. Documented throughout, the book contains hundreds of Renoir's personal letters, many of them previously unpublished, as well as letters of friends and patrons.