Impressionist impressions: Renoir

Pierre Auguste Renoir(1841-1919), has been one of major impressionist painter of France, and from his writers some note emerges: the first think is against the classicism: “The past is again interesting. The forming of architects, of painters, of sculptors in the École des Beaux Arts is based on it totally. The architects have sent to Rome for to rebuild the Greek and Roman monuments, the painter to copy Raphael. Also the sculptors have sent to Rome for to take the inspiration from the Greek sculpture. After some years of permanence in the eternal city(Rome), these sculptors, painters and architects go back to Paris full of antiquity, again impressed from ancient masters, can they work without influence and adhere to the modern”; the answer is not certainly but a digression  is due; although a famous painter was not to Rome, same influence is present: Delacroix(1798-1843, a French painter fro his painting to the Saint Sulpice has took inspiration fro the Expulsion of Heliodorus from the temple(Figs.1-2); inasmuch Renoir was right; the influence of classic is deep, even the classic formation of body in the painting of Delacroix is evident; and the following words are true: “The painters want imitate Raphael”, certainly we must consider the words, but we should say to Renoir that Delacroix, that he has considered fro his painting in the Saint Sulpice has an interpretation  of Raphael; following he says: “The sculptor are satisfied fro the low movement  to their sculptures and every thing is limited… they live in eternal self admiration that prevent to them of follow the modern movement”; these last two words are indicative, because it is the involuntary confession of impressionist against classicism; because the modern movement is, in opinion of Renoir, the impressionism. Other contradiction speaking around the  architects, Renoir says: “(the architect) beyond building he should to be painter and sculptor, as the great architects of Renaissance”; he reproached the young artists because they are too much near to classic ancient and he take example from the Renaissance, whose architect has took from ancient and have followed the classicism. A foreword a treatise on painting of Cennino Cennini(14^th century), Renoir doesn’t give contradiction: “In fact if we not must be too much near to ancient, we must not, for love of progress detach completely from past centuries…”; in the first written, in year 1877, he has said the contrary. A truth is expressed about this book of art,  this is: “Unique sake of Cennini was make  good artisans…”, in fact it was the purpose of Cennini, to teach the art to the young, an art that then was less despised. The letters area human document and Renoir isn’t an exception; a letter  in year 1865, he invited a friend and he reports his passion, this is the painting: “I am going bring a box of colors to make some sketch of towns that like to me”; the passion of painting is natural. During the read some good idea that today would be useless,, we can read it, in a letter to Margaret  Charpentier, dated 1879-1880, Renoir says: “Dear lady. I want give to you of idea of lady Berard that it isn’t crazy. It is to dedicate the last page of the review Modern life, to actual fashion. I would make the drawings, very cured. You can attract the female public that not considers the painting”; today it would useless but for idea is very good.

Alessandro Lusana

Fig.1

Fig.2