The Daughters of Catulle Mendes Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)

Description of Pierre Auguste Renoir’s painting Catullus Mendes’ Daughters at the Piano

In 1841, in a small French town, a boy was born who was destined to become a brilliant creator. Years later, after moving to Paris, Pierre Renoir became one of the most sought-after masters of his time. Renoir was a brilliant representative of impressionism, an excellent graphic artist and a talented sculptor.

He was best known for his portraits, which he painted for the Parisian nobility. In 1888, from under the brush of the master of painting came his next painting "The Daughters of Catullus Mendes at the piano. It depicted the fashionable subject of the era - a combination of young ladies and a musical instrument. Many artists embodied the popular theme on canvas, Renoir was no exception.

In the center of the plot are three girls-sisters. One stands with a violin in his hands, the hands of another with tenderness touching the keys. Their eyes are directed directly at the viewer. The third, the youngest, is waiting for the sisters to begin their impromptu concert. The girls are dressed in the latest fashion. They are wearing beautiful silk dresses and shoes. The composition is complemented by a piano and a bouquet in a vase. The composition is amazingly harmonious and combines a lot of colors and textures.

The canvas is painted from life. The three little heroines of the subject are the stepdaughters of the famous French poet Catullus Mendes. The painting was created on the eve of the Paris exhibition. The work bears the imprint of tenderness, femininity and lightness of young beauties. Their gazes are soft and warm. The images turned out very realistic and alive, despite the characteristic manner of the artist.