Pierre Auguste Renoir was born at Limoges but not long afterwards his family moved to Paris where his dad worked as a tailor. At 13 Pierre began splashing the porcelain (with paint) at a factory which went into liquidation a few years later, giving Pierre the opportunity to embark on his art career proper.
In 1862 he entered the studio of Monsieur Gleyre and met Monet with whom he became firm friends, often painting side by side with him at the beauty spot known as La Grenouillere (The Frog's Giblets).
In 1864 Pierre had his first picture accepted by the Salon (though what he was doing submitting paintings to a hairdresser's is anyone's guess); it was the snappily entitled 'Esmeralda Dancing With Her Goat Around A Fire Illuminating The Entire Crowd of Vagabonds' which he impulsively destroyed soon afterwards (the picture, not the goat).
Pierre is best known for his charming and intimate studies of female nudes. Admirers of these works are especially in awe of his brilliant and sensitive treatment of skin tones. His delicate handling of female flesh is said to be second to none (his models would testify to this).
In keeping with his predilection for painting happy and hedonistic subjects, one of Pierre's best-known works is that all-round scene of fun and frolics known as La Moulin de La Galette which, true to his Impressionist principles, he painted on the spot (finishing it just moments before the legendary Le Drugs Bust au Moulin de Galette).
When Renoir was old and suffering from arthritis he was forced to paint with his brush strapped to his wrist (whoever made him do that should have been strung up). He died at Cagnes sur Mer on December 3 1919.
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