Musee Renoir – Pierre Auguste Renoir’s former house in Cagnes-sur-Mer
Seduced by the seaside beauty of Cote D’Azur (the French Riviera), Pierre Auguste Renoir and his family left Paris and moved to Cagnes-sur-Mer for his last remaining 12 years.
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Musee Renoir – Once the Home of the Renoir Family
In 1907, Pierre Auguste Renoir bought a gorgeous estate in Cagnes-sur-Mer, called Les Collettes. The estate comprised of a large, stone farmhouse in the middle of ancient-old olive groves . From his gardens, Renoir had the most exquisite views! He could see the French Riviera below and the sparkling blue Mediterranean Seas beyond!
The French Riviera was an active artistic hub in the early 20th century!
Renoir was not alone. Many other artists including Matisse, Chagall, Dufy and Signac also bought homes in this region. Claude Monet visited his friend Renoir a few times and took the opportunity to paint Antibes and the surrounding towns. All of these painters fell under the spell of the colors and lights of Southern France.
Renoir’s House and his Painting Studio
The Renoir Museum (Musee Renoir) stands in the heart of magnificent gardens. It is a lovely museum, providing the visitor with a very personal account of Renoir and his family during the final twelve years of his life. Here in this house lived Renoir, his wife Aline Charigot and their three children, Pierre, Jean and Claude.
Renoir’s Painting Studio (Atelier)
The most remarkable room in the house is Renoir’s painting studio on the first floor. A fireplace made out of stone & a chimney dominate one wall. In the center of the room stands Renoir’s painting easel with a wooden wheelchair in front of it and painting materials on each side. In his last years, Renoir suffered with severe rheumatoid arthritis. However remarkably, he continued to paint right until his death on December 3rd, 1919.
The Beautiful Gardens At Musee Renoir
From Renoir’s house and gardens, the painter was able to view the Haut-de Cagnes, a 14th century castle and a residence of the Monaco’s royal family. The garden also offered the artist with beautiful panoramic views of Cap d’Antibes.
It was here in this garden that Renoir painted so many beautiful landscapes. Today, plaques showing replicas of these paintings are scattered around the garden. The plaques are located in the exact locations where Renoir set up his easel and painted these views.
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Musee Renoir Opening Times
Wednesdays to Mondays
June to September 10am-1pm & 2-6pm (gardens open 10am-6pm)
October to March 10am-noon & 2-5pm
April, May 10am-noon & 2-6pm
Closed Tuesday and December 25th, January 1st and May 1st
Address
19 chemin des Collettes
Cagnes-sur-Mer
Tel. : 00 33 90 04 93 20 61 07
Website
For more information regarding Musee Renoir, press here
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Where to See Auguste Renoir’s Paintings in Paris
If you are visiting Paris, you can see a greater collection of Renoir’s famous artworks in the following fantastic art museums:
For more articles about Renoir’s life, where to see his artworks and how to travel in his footsteps, see below:
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