Les Parapluies

Artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919)

Datec. 1878-1885/6

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions180.3 × 114.9 cm

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineSir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917, The National Gallery, London. In partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.

Object number3268

DescriptionThere are two distinct styles evident in this work. In the centre of the painting, a woman wearing a toque and blue cape looks down on a little girl holding a hoop. A red-haired girl to the right lays a protective hand on the young child. These three figures, are painted in a fluid, atmospheric manner and recall Renoir's Impressionistic style of the1870s. The woman on the left originally had clothes close in style to the group on the right, with a frilled skirt, white lace cuffs and a collar. She was also wearing a hat and a belt. The artist reworked this figure in a more severe style or what Renoir called his manière aigre' (harsh or sour manner). This reworking would appear to date from 1885-86.

By 1881, Renoir felt that he had gone as far as he could with Impressionism and a visit to Italy in 1881-82 inspired a greater sense of structure and solidity in his work. The linear pattern of the umbrella handles, the child's hoop and the handle of the bandbox reflect this new attention to design and form and a dissatisfaction with Impressionism. The treatment of the tree in the background would suggest that it was painted after Renoir stayed with Cézanne at L'Estaque in 1882. The Parisian art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel bought this picture from Renoir in 1892 and sold it to Sir Hugh Lane. This painting was one of Hugh Lane's favourites.

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