Two Generations of Renoir: Pierre-Auguste and ... - Galerie Michael

RENOIR-Two Generations Alexandre, b. 1974
W
hen I was
young, I
used to
rebel against
the shadow
of my greatgrandfather
and I didn’t know a great deal
about him. It seemed to me that no matter
what I did, he had done it first, and better.
Now I understand. Having grown up with
a 500 book library about him (something I
thought everyone had on their own ancestry),
I began to learn what kind of man he
was. He inspired me to better myself and my
art. The stories I learned, the philosophies
he believed, and the work that came from
them made me want to know more. Stories
about his playful nature, like when a friend
asked to be painted opposite a beautiful
girl (somehow I suspect the friend had a
crush on her). He asked my great-grandfather
to make them more compatible, and
my great-grandfather agreed—he painted
his friend 20 years younger to immortalize
them in the same age group (Impressionist
cosmetic surgery I call it). He believed there
were enough dark things in the world and
he did not want to add to them. He wanted
his paintings to inspire peace and enliven
someone’s life. These are some of the ideals
that I have taken to heart and adopted
from my great-grandfather. I no longer rebel
against Pierre-Auguste Renoir, I listen to
what he can teach me.
Alexandre Renoir, October, 2008
12
Portrait of Pierre-Auguste
Renoir
Oil on canvas.
Signed lower right. #401901
40 x 30”