Pont Neuf Paris Pierre-Auguste Renoir Postcard

Pont Neuf, Paris by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, oil on canvas 1872, is a landscape painting overlooking the famous bridge and Ile de la Cite on the River Seine in the centre of the city of Paris, France, under a bright sun beneath a brilliant blue sky and white clouds. Pedestrians walk to and fro on the street and over the bridge, with horse drawn carts. Painted rapidly in quick brushstrokes and daubs of pure oil colours, the picture captures the light, colour, and atmosphere of a day in the life of the city, as well as the deep blue waters of the river and colourful reflections on the facades of the buildings of Paris beneath the brilliant, mid-day sun. The painting preserves the lively, vivacious and sympathetic character of the city. Renoir here masters the Impressionist concepts of light, local colour, reflections, and colourful shadows, and presents a slice of time snapshot of a passing moment painted alla prima from life. Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919) was a French painter and leading figure of the 19th century French Impressionist movement. As a boy Renoir painted designs on fine china and fans, and studied paintings in the Louvre, until he went to study art with Charles Gleyre in Paris, where he met Monet, Sisley and other members of the Impressionist group. Influenced by the Realism of Courbet and the painterly sense of light and colour of Monet and other plein-air painters, Renoir developed a softly painted style of vibrant light and saturated colour. Renoir painted many portraits and landscapes but concentrated on dazzling scenes of contemporary life which captured a momentary snapshot in time, while the influence of Titian, Rubens and the Rococo painters inspired his many figurative paintings and domestic scenes. Renoir married and had three children who became accomplished artists themselves, and in his older age continued to paint prolifically while partially disabled by severe arthritis. In 1919 Renoir became nearly the only living artist honoured by an exhibition in the Louvre alongside the works of the old masters. Renoir's fluid, masterful technique, unique sense of light and colour, warm sensuality and human empathy made him one of the most beloved and popular painters of all time.