The Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir's The Luncheon of the Boating Party, painted during the years 1880-1881, uses costume, color, and setting to convey the pleasures of a sunny afternoon among friends. Renoir's palette has a golden glow; for instance, the women's fair skin flushes in the warmth of the sun. The straw hats and bare arms of some members of the party signal the rising heat. Renoir set The Luncheon of the Boating Party at an establishment he knew well -- the upper terrace of the Restaurant Fournaise -- and he portrayed his friends and his future wife (in the lefthand corner) among the company.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir's The Luncheon of the Boating Party (oil on canvas, 51x68 inches) is part of the Phillips Collections in Washington, D.C.

In the next painting, we'll see Pierre-Auguste Renoir cover a subject that was a favorite of the Impressionists.

For more on Impressionist paintings, artists, and art history, see:

• Impressionism
• Vincent van Gogh
• Claude Monet