FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Renoir and His Circle of Friends
and Family Featured

in First-ever Public Showing of Private Collection Exhibit underscores importance of friends and family in Renoir’s life and work

May 4, 2004 – Sacramento, Calif. –The Crocker will host Renoir and His Circle: Works from an Intimate Collection, a special exhibition telling the story of the friendships Pierre Auguste Renoir forged early in his career and maintained throughout his lifetime, May 8 – July 11. The exhibit includes 33 small-scale paintings, chalk drawings, figural sketches, ceramics and bronzes by Renoir, his son, Jean Renoir, Paul Cézanne , Éduard Manet and Jacques Villion and other well-known, late-19 th-century artists. This marks the first time the works have been publicly shown as a collective exhibition.

This exhibit represents the mature works of Renoir and underscores the importance friends and family played in Renoir’s extraordinary and varied body of work. ”Renoir’s personal relationships were deeply felt, and he drew emotional sustenance from his family, especially later in life when rheumatoid arthritis challenged him,” said Curatorial Associate Diana Daniels. “The exhibit features Renoir’s work in his later years, featuring portraits, sketches, and his first experiences sculpting and working with wax,” Daniels added. In 1913, Renoir began a four-year collaboration with sculptor Richard Guino, who translated the physically impaired artist’s visions into wax and later bronze.

Regardless of the style, Renoir delighted in depicting life’s momentary joys and often focused his work on the surroundings and activities of the Parisian bourgeoisie, especially of women and children. Best known as an influential and beloved French Impressionist, Renoir shared in the development of contemporary painting alongside Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissaro, Frédéric Bazille and others. The group of friends met often in Parisian cafes to exchange ideas and opinions on the current artistic movement. Throughout his career, Renoir depended on family and friends to provide inspiration.

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The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of Californian, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday; Thursday until 9 p.m. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 264-5423 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

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Media Contact: LeAnne R. Ruzzamenti
Media: (916) 264-1963
Mobile : (916) 213-9402
Public: (916) 264-5423
216 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.crockerartmuseum.org