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Pierre-August Renoir (1841-1919)text by Dr John House, Reader in History of Art, Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London : 38 pages, 6 colour, 13 monochrome plates ISBN 1 871560 81 0 Cover illustration - Brouillard à Guernesey (detail) SOLD OUT - download text as PDF (262 Kb) |
The French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir spent a little over a month on Guernsey in the late summer of 1883, staying in lodgings at No 4 George Road, St. Peter Port. He painted about 15 pictures on the island, none of them large, and all showing views of the bay and beach of Moulin Huet, at the east end of the island's rocky south coast and within easy walking distance of his lodgings.
Dr John House - Renoir in Guernsey (1st paragraph)
In nineteenth century guide books to Guernsey, Moulin Huet was consistently singled out as the island's finest scenic attraction. Black's Guide to the Channel Islands noted: 'It is not necessary to attempt a description of the singularly exquisite views of rock-scenery obtained in this little nook. They are in some respects unrivalled in the Channel Islands, and everyone who visits Guernsey is expected to make this one of the first excursions'.
Dr John House - Renoir in Guernsey - Moulin Huet: 'A famous resort for artists' (excerpt)
Renoir's visit to Guernsey came at a turning point in his career, and his paintings from the island vividly illustrate the varied strands in his work at the time: the dealer landscapes showing typical tourist views; the sketches of sea and rocks, seeking to capture a rapid effect; the studies of figures on the beach, potential 'documents' for more ambitious projects....
Dr John House - Renoir in Guernsey (last paragraph, excerpt)
