Lot Essay
By 1896 Renoir had begun to achieve the consistent financial and social success that had hitherto eluded him and, as a result, had become more confident of his 'bourgeois' status. The two major family groups that he worked on at this time display his increasing confidence. Renoir is no longer reticent and secretive about his family as he was a decade earlier, but now presents them as fully fledged members of the 'bourgeoisie'. The figure standing at the back is his wife, Aline, whose humble origins had been something of an embarrassment to Renoir but here her stout peasant frame is disguised behind Gabrielle Renard who has Jean, the artist's son, sitting on her knees. Gabrielle Renard was the daughter of a wine grower from Essoyes, as was Aline, and she was related to Aline's family the Charigots.
"In 1894 Renoir hired Gabrielle, then aged sixteen, to help with the housework during Aline's second pregnancy. After the birth of Jean, Gabrielle remained with the family and become one of Renoir's favourite models. Renoir disliked professional models and Gabrielle had all the qualities he regarding as essential in a model" (W. Gaunt, Renoir, Oxford, 1982, p. 47).
According to François Daulte the present work was painted circa 1896. Jean Renoir, the child in the picture, was born in 1894 thus giving an approximate date of 1896 for the painting. Renoir also worked on another large-scale family group in 1896 which was exhibited at Durand-Ruel in June of that year. It is now in the Barnes Collection, Merion, Pennsylvania.
To be included in volume II of the Renoir Catalogue raisonné, Figures 1891-1905 currently being prepared by François Daulte.
"In 1894 Renoir hired Gabrielle, then aged sixteen, to help with the housework during Aline's second pregnancy. After the birth of Jean, Gabrielle remained with the family and become one of Renoir's favourite models. Renoir disliked professional models and Gabrielle had all the qualities he regarding as essential in a model" (W. Gaunt, Renoir, Oxford, 1982, p. 47).
According to François Daulte the present work was painted circa 1896. Jean Renoir, the child in the picture, was born in 1894 thus giving an approximate date of 1896 for the painting. Renoir also worked on another large-scale family group in 1896 which was exhibited at Durand-Ruel in June of that year. It is now in the Barnes Collection, Merion, Pennsylvania.
To be included in volume II of the Renoir Catalogue raisonné, Figures 1891-1905 currently being prepared by François Daulte.