Let It Shine: Impressionism at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Today I went with a friend to see an exhibit of the Landscapes of Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919), a leading Impressionist painter, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibit was absolutely exquisite, it included some of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen on display. Renoir was innovative in his representations of nature, with bold beautiful colors giving the viewer the experience of being in the painting. Figures were sometimes seen in his landscapes. The collection also included gardens, cityscapes, and sea paintings. Renoir often painted plen aire (in the open air), and his paintings were set in France, Italy, and Algeria. A representative sampling of the exhibit can be seen here: Renoir Landscapes . I was unable to take photos in the main exhibit, but I was able to photograph the museum's permanent collection. I've included some selections of other Impressionists here to give an idea of the style. (The photographs were taken without benefit of tripod or special lighting, so I am certain that a bit of creative internet searching can lead to a more faithful reproduction of the style).