Atelier et jardin Renoir - Essoyes

This house belonged to the descendants of Pierre-Auguste Renoir until 2012, when, thanks to the municipal council of Essoyes and the Fondation du Patrimoine, it underwent a thorough renovation to preserve the authenticity and soul of the family home. The painter, born in 1841, bought his first house in 1896 . Renoir chose Essoyes, the birthplace of his wife Aline Charigot. Here he found the peace and serenity that gave him the pleasure of family reunions, especially in summer, but also the many themes that stimulated his work: the market, landscapes, a church, models...

The Renoir Garden: between the reception and the Atelier, walk along the path of a walking garden, inspired by Renoir's paintings , between fruit trees, green plants and fragrant flowers.
Take some time to walk around, sit in the shade of the apple tree and imitate Renoir by making a few sketches.
At the end of the garden, discover the painter's house.

The painter's studio: built in 1906 so as not to disturb the playing children, Renoir painted many canvases here.
The ground floor of the studio invites you to discover the different facets of this artist: his attraction for colors, his desire for sculptures, his attraction for portraits...
In the center of the room, as if floating, stands the painter's wheelchair , a symbol of the courage and dedication of a man who would rather give up walking than painting.
Next to it, projected on a canvas, hang some paintings made in Essoyes .
Upstairs you will discover some authentic objects. The sculptures of course, but also the transport crate with which the paintings made here were brought to Paris.
A rare document, a film shows you the painter at work.

Willem Vandenameele