Art for Guernsey celebrates
RENOIR WITH AN EXHIBITION AND ART WALK
Renoir has a special significance for Guernsey as the famous Impressionist spent just over a month on the island in 1883 and worked on 15 paintings during his stay, all depicting views of Moulin Huet. As 2019 marks the centenary of Renoir’s death, Art for Guernsey is celebrating his importance to our island with a unique exhibition, exclusive events and a Renoir Walk.
A free exhibition will be shown at the former site of Moulin Huet Pottery, kindly made available for the occasion by Rex and Robina Opie. This much-loved granite cottage will house an original Renoir drawing, never before seen in the public domain. Besides providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view this work, the exhibition will inform and enlighten visitors about the artist’s time in Guernsey.
Art for Guernsey has also put together a Renoir Walk in the vicinity of Moulin Huet, encouraging participants to follow in Renoir’s footsteps and appreciate the views that inspired his paintings. Five steel frames have been especially commissioned to echo the ornate frames Renoir chose for his own artworks, but with a contemporary twist. These frames will be strategically placed along the route, allowing viewers to stand in the exact spots where Renoir worked on his paintings, and to see Moulin Huet bay from exactly the same perspectives as the Frenchman did. From Saturday 13 July, QR codes on panels adjacent to the frames can be scanned with a smartphone, allowing walkers to listen to a fascinating audio guide conducted by Mr Cyrille Sciama, a world authority on Renoir and Art for Guernsey’s guest of honour. During the launch of the Renoir Walk from 10-14 July those following the route, including school groups, will witness actors dressed in 19th-century clothing enjoying the beach, just as Renoir was captivated by the bathers he saw during his stay. ‘Renoir’ himself will even make an appearance! A free-to-print pdf is available on the Art for Guernsey website, to guide you along the route and even inspire you to produce your own piece of art!
BAIE DU MOULIN Á TRAVERS DES ARBRES
BAIE DU MOULIN Á TRAVERS DES ARBRES (Moulin Huet bay through the trees), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
461 x 654mm
The French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) spent just over a month in Guernsey in 1883 and worked on 15 paintings during his stay. They all depict views of Moulin Huet, which was within walking distance of his lodgings at 4 George Road, St Peter Port. Here you can admire the view of the coast that Renoir first glimpsed before walking down the hill to the bay.
Listen
écoute
BROUILLARD À GUERNESEY
BROUILLARD À GUERNESEY (Fog in Guernsey), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
540 x 650mm
The panorama of the bay constantly changes as you go down the path to the beach. From this spot Renoir was able to capture the roof before it disappeared from view; the ruins of the cottage seen in this piece are still standing. The effect of the fog is created by the use of a certain desaturation in the painting. The original can be found in the Cincinnati Art Museum, Ohio, USA.
BROUILLARD À GUERNESEY (Fog in Guernsey), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
540 x 650mm
The panorama of the bay constantly changes as you go down the path to the beach. From this spot Renoir was able to capture the roof before it disappeared from view; the ruins of the cottage seen in this piece are still standing. The effect of the fog is created by the use of a certain desaturation in the painting. The original can be found in the Cincinnati Art Museum, Ohio, USA.
Listen
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ENFANTS AU BORD DE LA MER, GUERNSEY
Enfants au bord de la mer, Guernesey (Children at the seaside, Guernsey), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
920 x 670mm
Renoir loved to paint people, which is reflected in this piece. The artist used to go to the beach with his family, so this painting must have brought back happy memories.
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VUE DE GUERNESEY
VUE DE GUERNESEY (View of Guernsey), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
460 x 560mm
The Impressionists were drawn to the transient effects of sunlight, which allowed them to work quickly in the open air. Renoir chose a bright colour palette for his paintings, and used feathery brushstrokes to capture his artistic vision on canvas. This piece shows us the route Renoir would take to go and admire the bay’s rocky coastline.
VUE DE GUERNESEY (View of Guernsey), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
460 x 560mm
The Impressionists were drawn to the transient effects of sunlight, which allowed them to work quickly in the open air. Renoir chose a bright colour palette for his paintings, and used feathery brushstrokes to capture his artistic vision on canvas. This piece shows us the route Renoir would take to go and admire the bay’s rocky coastline.
Listen
écoute
LA CÔTE DU MOULIN HUET
Renoir View at Guernsey 1883
LA CÔTE DU MOULIN HUET (The Moulin Huet coast), Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1883
460 x 560mm
This piece shows us the route Renoir would take to go and admire the bay’s rocky coastline. The artwork makes us wonder if the tree was really there or whether it was imagined by Renoir – what do you think?
