Renoir in the Barnes Foundation

Lucy (associate curator, Barnes Foundation) and the late House (Courtauld Inst. of Art; Impressionism: Paint and Politics) offer an exhaustive study of one of the most extensive collections of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's work. Dr. Albert C. Barnes, whose wealth came from pharmaceuticals, began amassing his vast art collection in 1912. He became obsessed with Renoir, the result being an unprecedented collection of 181 canvases. Functioning as a catalog, a history, and a volume of criticism, this book delves into Renoir's work and his influences, styles, and role in modern art. Lucy and House provide an extensive study of the artist's life along with information on the history and provenance of each Renoir in the Barnes Foundation collection. Nearly 200 color plates are accompanied by selective and thematic catalogs, a section including documentation and techniques for each painting, and a chronology of the collection.