History, Painting, Art, Europe 

Pierre-Auguste Renoir once wrote to a friend, Although we don t eat every day, I m still quite cheerful. Like many painters, Renoir was always happy with a paintbrush in his hand. He was a productive Impressionist artist, creating more than 7,000 paintings, drawings, and sculptures during his lifetime. Renoir is best known for portraits of engaging children, lovely women, and sensual nudes. After years of struggle to earn enough money to eat and pay the rent, Renoir began making a comfortable living painting portraits of wealthy patrons. His fame grew, and his paintings sold to rich collectors. Despite his growing fame, Renoir remained a shy, humble family man. He adored his wife Aline and his children. He maintained close friendships with other artists Monet, Sisley, and Bazille. He had no interest in fame, just in painting beautiful pictures. Why shouldn t art be pretty? he asked. There are enough unpleasant things in the world. - from Amzon