Pierre-Auguste Renoir (25 February 1841 - 3 December 1919) was a French artist who was a leading painter in the development of the Impressionist style. As a celebrator of beauty; and especially feminine sensuality; it has been said that 'Renoir is the final representative of a tradition which runs directly from Rubens to Watteau'.

Renoir's paintings are notable for their vibrant light and saturated colour; most often focusing on people in intimate and candid compositions. The female nude was one of his primary subjects. In characteristic Impressionist style; Renoir suggested the details of a scene through freely brushed touches of color; so that his figures softly fuse with one another and their surroundings. Pictures From History