Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Maurice Gangnat, Paris (acquired directly from the artist; sale: Hôtel Drouot, Vente Maurice Gangnat, Paris, 24-25 June 1925, lot 55)
M. Delaronce, Paris
Sale: Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 19th June 1989, lot 70b
Private Collection (acquired circa 1990; sale: Christies, New York, 7th November 2007, lot 306)

Paris, Galerie Durand-Ruel & Dusseldorf, Kunsthalle, Renoir. Collection Maurice Gangnat, 1955-56, no. 17
Vevery, Musée Jenisch, Renoir, 1956, no. 87

Georges Rivière, Renoir et ses amis, Paris, 1921, p. 147

The canvas is lined. UV examination reveals a line of retouching along the upper half of the extreme right edge, some further flecks to the right of her face, and three minute specks to her chest. Otherwise, this work is in overall good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This stunning work by Pierre-Auguste Renoir wonderfully captures the artist's devotion to the portrayal of the female form, and is a beautiful example of the artist's mature works. Renoir's model is portrayed as youthful and voluptuous, with her delicate dress draped off her shoulder, revealing her sensuous and ample bosom. The sitter's gently curling locks frame her rosy cheeks, betraying the flush of youth, and though her gaze is gentle and pensive, she remains decidedly alluring. As Colin B. Bailey notes, 'During the last thirty years of his life, [...] the artist touches new depths of affection and tenderness', an observation which proves true in this subtle and intimate portrait.

The model has not been formally identified, and the work is a remarkable example of Renoir's later aesthetic, where he dextrously blends the realism of the feminine physique with a more stylised and idealised vision of the female form. The result is a unique portrait depicting a monumental figure, transcending the constraints of time, which is both heavily indebted to the classical tradition, and yet which also boldly asserts its modernity.