Small Study for a Nude
1882
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 13.3 x 10.3 cm (5 1/4 x 4 1/16 in.) framed: 25 x 22.2 x 4.7 cm (9 13/16 x 8 3/4 x 1 7/8 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CF
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
Accession Number
1970.17.73
Art Historical Context
**Small Study for a Nude** (1882) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir captures the artist's evolving fascination with the human form during a pivotal moment in his career. This intimate oil on canvas, measuring just 13. x 10.3 cm, served as a preparatory sketch, Renoir's shift from the loose brushwork of Impressionism toward a more classical, sculptural approach influenced by masters like Ingres. Created amid his "dry period," when he refined his technique for smoother, luminous skin tones, it reflects the sensual nudes that defined his mature style. Renoir's Impressionist roots shine through in the sof...
About the Artist
Auguste Renoir · 1841–1919
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was a founding figure of Impressionism whose luminous depictions of Parisian leisure, sensuous female forms, and sun-dappled landscapes made him one of the most beloved painters in Western art history. Born in Limoges to a working-class family, Renoir began as a porcelain painter before pursuing fine arts, and this early craft experience gave him facility with the...