Pierre-Auguste Renoir Handwritten Letter

For Sale: £6,950.00

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a French artist and leading painter in the development of Impressionism.

Renoir began work as a painter in a porcelain factory in 1854. In 1862 he entered the studio of Gleyre where he formed lasting friendships with Monet, Sisley and Bazille.

Renoir's works have instant appeal and the artist freely communicated the joy he took in them saying "Why shouldn't art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world."

This letter from Renoir to Madame Charpentier (who is portrayed in Renoir's "Madame Charpentier with Her Children" (1878)) from 1886 and is written in French. In English, it reads:

"The Petit exposition having ended, there remains only for me to thank you...As I hear you are not in Paris, won't you please drop a word to Petit so that he might know if he should bring your paintings or hold it until your return. I am in Brittany in a wonderful place and I am working. A thousand good wishes to Georges and kisses to the children. Your good and sincere friend. Renoir."

A review of auction results shows that no other letters from Renoir to his benefactor, Madame Charpentier, have been up for sale in at least 35 years.

The letter, which is in excellent condition, with some light toning and folding as is typical of documents of this age, is accompanied by a beautiful black and white photograph of Renoir.

This is a delightfully rare letter from an important artist.

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