
“Monet’s
Garden” in Giverny (see my posts here) is certainly more known than “Renoir’s
Garden” in Paris. (... and this garden is definitely less famous for its water lilies …
despite the top picture.) What is referred to as “Renoir’s Garden” is actually
part of the green space which now surrounds the Montmartre Museum and on which
I have posted several times, see e.g. here, here, here and here.
We can
learn that Renoir lived and worked here for a short time around 1876 (two years
after the first impressionist exhibition, see my post here). This is where he
made one of his most famous paintings, “Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette” (see
may post here). It was for the first time shown at the 1877 impressionist
exhibition, was in 1879 purchased by his (wealthy) painter friend, Gustave
Caillebotte (see my posts here and here) and became the property of the French
Republic at the death of Caillebotte. Today you will find it in the Orsay
Museum (see my posts here).
When Renoir
lived here, the green space was described as an abandoned park. Jeanne Samary,
who was painted a dozen of times by Renoir, appears in another famous painting
from the garden, “The Swing” (and her sister sits in the front on the “Galette”
painting)… and there is actually a reference to Monet as well – he’s supposed
to stand together with Renoir in this other Renoir painting from the garden –
there are other ones….
Walking
around the garden, you are of course overlooked by Suzanne Valadon’s workshop
(see post here).
Well, as I was in company with some green space experts, I
concentrated on some shots of flowers, I don’t believe they need any particular
comments, despite the fact that they were taken during one of the coldest May days Paris has ever experienced. No real spring feeling.
Two more
views of the little pond with the water lilies (top picture).
There is
now a (very) little vegetable garden.
On the way
to and from “Renoir's Garden” I took these flower photos, including, when arriving
home, of the white bushes surrounding my own little garden.
3 comments:
Oh Peter, I missed this one in Montmartre! Yet another good reason to visit -- and during the floral season, I think! I love seeing your white bushes. What a beautiful haven. I can imagine you coming out on your patio, enjoying coffee or a glass of wine and savoring every moment!
Thanks for this post. I have been in an Impressionist mood these days!
C'est à Giverny que je suis allée avec Catherine, le jardin de Renoir n'est pas mal non plus
I don't know how I missed this post. I love all your beautiful photos, Peter - thank you!
Kathryn
Post a Comment