Who painted Portrait of Renoir?

Portrait of Renoir was painted by Frédéric Bazille in 1867-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of Renoir?

Portrait of Renoir is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of Renoir?

Portrait of Renoir is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Renoir?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Renoir are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of Renoir

Frédéric Bazille , 1867

Portrait of Renoir is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Frédéric Bazille. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Bazille's friend and studio companion, rendered as a bust-length portrait.

The painting depicts Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Bazille's friend and studio companion, rendered as a bust-length portrait. Shown in a three-quarter view with his right profile turned toward the viewer, Renoir sits upright against a reddish cushion or backrest, his gaze meeting the observer's. The straightforward presentation lacks elaborate iconography; the warm-toned cushion serves as the primary compositional accent, suggesting a sense of intimacy and camaraderie.

By portraying his fellow artist in this direct, personal manner, Bazille conveys the bond of friendship and shared creative space that united the two young painters in 1867.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1867, this vertical bust-length portrait uses oil paint applied to a canvas support. The composition depicts Pierre-Auguste Renoir seated in a three-quarter profile facing right, with his gaze directed toward the viewer. Stylistically, the figure is positioned against a reddish cushion or backrest, creating a distinct backdrop for the subject.

The work measures 40.5 by 32.5 centimeters, emphasizing an intimate scale typical of studio portraits from this period. The handling of the medium captures the likeness of the fellow artist with whom Bazille shared a studio, focusing on the sitter's engagement with the spectator within a confined spatial arrangement.

History & Provenance

Frédéric Bazille created this oil-on-canvas portrait of his friend Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1867. The vertical, bust-length portrait measures 40.5 by 32.5 centimeters and captures the subject in three-quarter profile against a reddish cushion. Following its creation, the painting remained within the family of the artist's brother, Marc Bazille, for an extended period.

In 2021 it was acquired by the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, where it is currently held. Specific inventory or accession numbers are not detailed in the available records, and the sources do not list past exhibitions or loan history for the work.

Context

Portrait of Renoir is an 1867 oil-on-canvas portrait by French painter Frédéric Bazille, depicting his close associate Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The work, measuring 40.5 × 32.5 cm, entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 2021 after remaining in the artist's family. As part of Bazille's portraiture, it exemplifies the intimate, three-quarter view characteristic of his output and situates the piece within the broader circle of Second Empire and early Impressionist artists.

Scholarship emphasizes its role in illustrating the personal connections among emerging modernists and its contribution to the narrative of portraiture leading toward Impressionist innovations.

Overview

Frédéric Bazille's 1867 oil painting, Portrait of Renoir, captures his contemporary and fellow artist, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This work exemplifies Bazille's approach to portraiture, often integrating figures within their environment. The painting is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, offering insight into the early Impressionist circle through a personal depiction. It reflects the close relationships among artists who would define a new artistic movement.