Museums: Phillips Collection #1 (Part 2 of 2)

Our visit to the Phillips Collection continues.

When we visited, the museum was hosting a temporary exhibition--Renoir and Friends--dedicated to impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, plus painters he knew and friends he used as models.

SRH at the Phillips Collection

Caillebotte was a close friend of Renoir and was a subject in Renoir's paintings.

The photographer did not read the sign above until reviewing photos at home. 

The centerpiece of the exhibition was Renoir's masterpiece Luncheon of the Boating Party.

Featured in the painting are many friends of Renoir.  The description below describes how the painting was created and identifies the friends who were models for the painting. 

The painting has been thoroughly studied. It has been photographed with an infrared camera and even bombarded with x-rays.  The thorough study has revealed that the work was sketched, then painted and then modified again and again until Renoir was satisfied.

X-Ray Image:

Infrared Image:

Infrared photography and x-rays.  Who knew?

Thanks for visiting the Phillips Collection with us.