Luncheon of the Boating Party

Renoir, then 39 and living in Paris, France, supports himself by painting society women in their parlors.  He dreams of breaking new ground in art -  repeating safe, easy methods suffocated him.  Alphonsine Fournaise, the daughter of the owner of the Maison Fournaise Cafe, suggests that he should paint from the café’s terrace facing the river.  This café is also a hotel and boat rental frequented by writers and artists.  He asks his friends to pose, and for several Sundays he treats them to lunch while he tackles the difficult project of painting 13 people at once.  He must work quickly because he only has two months to catch the light he needs.

The book’s title and cover depict Renoir’s masterpiece Luncheon of the Boating Party.  The painting is currently housed in the Phillips Collection in Washington, D. C..   The story is about the famous Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).  Impressionism was a 19^th century art movement by Paris-based artists exhibiting their art in public.  Some characteristics of Impressionist painting are visible brush strokes, light and its changing qualities, ordinary subject matter, inclusion of the perception of movement and unusual visual angles.  For more information on the Impressionist movement and artists go to WebMuseum: Impressionism ; the 19th Century Paris Project offers some insight on fashion, social classes and music.  http://dl.lib.brown.edu/paris for a look into the cultural, political and social context of 19^th century Paris.