Jean as a Huntsman, 1910
Oil on canvas
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
French, 1841-1919
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a founding member of the French Impressionist movement. Born one year later than Rodin, Renoir was a painter with a penchant for portraiture. He completed this likeness of his fifteen-year-old son, Jean, posed in hunting attire alongside the family’s dog in 1910, using expressive brushstrokes and a bright color palette. During this same time, Rodin executed a number of bronze portraits of statesmen, wealthy patrons, friends, and acquaintances.
Jean later became one of France’s most celebrated film directors, known for such classic works as Grand Illusion (1937) and The Rules of the Game (1939).
Gift through the Generosity of the Late Mr. Jean Renoir and Madame Dido Renoir, M.79.40
Visual Description: This is a portrait of a boy posed with a rifle and dog outside, painted with a vibrant color palette and wispy brushstrokes that give the scene a fuzzy quality. The painting itself is a little over five and a half feet tall. The boy, Jean Renoir, stands with his left hand on his hip, dressed in a blue hunting suit and holding a hunting rifle. He faces forward, his expression calm as he stands for his portrait. Next to him is the Renoir family dog, resting at his feet. The dog is a mix of white with brown spots on his face. Jean and the dog stand in a lush landscape of greenery, with hills visible in the background against a light blue sky.
