Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Estate of the artist
Jean Renoir, Paris (son of the artist; by descent from the above)
Dido Freire Renoir, Beverly Hills (wife of Jean Renoir; by descent from the above; sale: Christie's, New York, 9th May 1991, lot 206)
Private Collection, Buenos Aires
Private Collection, Dallas, TX
Guarisco Gallery, Washington, D.C.
Acquired from the above by the present owner in September 2004

Bernheim-Jeune (ed.), L'Atelier de Renoir, Paris, 1931, vol. I, no. 162, illustrated pl. 53
Guy Patrice & Michel Dauberville, Renoir, Catalogue raisonné des tableaux, pastels, dessins et aquarelles, 1895-1902, Paris, 2010, vol. III, no. 1906, illustrated p. 128


To be included in the Renoir Catalogue critique being prepared by the Wildenstein Institute from the François Daulte, Durand-Ruel, Venturi, Vollard and Wildenstein archives.

The canvas is lined. There is 3cm. vertical thin line of retouching along the upper left edge and one nailhead-sized spot with associated flecks of retouching towards the centre of the upper edge, visible under UV light. There is a discoloured varnish and some surface dirt, which would be easily removable. This work is in very good condition. Colours: Overall accurate in the printed catalogue.
"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."

The present work is a beautiful rendering of the picturesque port of La Rochelle on France's west coast. Renoir depicts one of the towers which guard the entrance to the harbour bringing to the scene the saturated colour more often associated with his paintings of the Mediterranean. In this period Renoir was travelling widely, seeking out new subjects and clearly the lively harbour with its brightly coloured fishing boats appealed to him.

In the present work we also see the influence of the long line of French artists whose classical style of painting was central to Renoir's art throughout his life. The influence of Claude Lorraine is particularly evident here,  both in terms of subject matter and atmosphere. While the work captures Renoir's avant-garde edge, it likewise remains consistent in depicting him as a 'faithful priest of the art which is immortal because it is the earthly reflection of eternal divine beauty (Nicholas Wadley, Renoir: a Retrospective, New York, 1987, p. 277)