An exciting new exhibition - Renoir in Guernsey, 1883 - will open at the end of September on Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The only Renoir exhibition in the world in 2023, it will celebrate the 140th anniversary of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s stay in Guernsey and the inspiration that he found on the island.

Renoir Walk, Moulin Huet Bay (Credit: Art for Guernsey)

The centrepiece of the event, which takes place from 30 September to 15 December, will be a fine art exhibition at Candie Museum on the island, with other exhibitions and activities planned at the Priaulx Library, the Renoir Walk and Art for Guernsey’s gallery in the Old Quarter, St Peter Port.

In September 1883, the French artist Renoir stayed in Guernsey for just over a month. During this period, he executed some 15 paintings, many of Moulin Huet Bay. Fundamental in his production of landscapes, the series of views of Guernsey also attests to his constant research on the human figure and its integration into the natural environment.

Renoir, 1841-1919, de Gilles Néret, Köln, Taschen, 2001, p. 190. ISBN 9783822857410 (Credit: Art for Guernsey)

Known today for his leading role in the development of the Impressionist style of painting, Renoir was fascinated not only by the crystal-clear waters and the steep topography of the island, but also by the customs of the inhabitants who bathed freely by the rocks. Renoir developed a new style with the bathers’ freedom as a source of amusement and inspiration.

This international exhibition is being shown at the Musée des Impressionnismes in Giverny, France, before moving to Guernsey Museum at Candie, and will bring together a significant set of works by Renoir related to his stay.

Staged by Art for Guernsey in partnership with the Guernsey Museums and the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, the exhibition includes a host of major international works, such as Rochers de Guernesey avec personnages (plage à Guernesey), which Art for Guernsey syndicated a group of local art collectors to acquire. Art for Guernsey is a charitable initiative managed by a team of passionate professionals who share a belief in the transformative power of art to bring communities together.

Rochers de Guernesey avec personnages (plage à Guernesey) Credit: Art for Guernsey

This artwork is widely considered to be one of the best that Renoir painted during his stay on the island and is one of just five of the original ‘Guernsey-painted’ Renoir pieces still in private hands; the other 10 sit in major museum collections, which include the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery in London and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Helen Glencross, Head of Heritage Services, Guernsey Museums, said: “Guernsey Museums is absolutely delighted to partner with Art for Guernsey and the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny to bring together artworks by Renoir in this spectacular exhibition, marking his trip to Guernsey 140 years ago. We are excited to be part of the programme of exhibitions and events focused on Renoir and we look forward to welcoming visitors to engage with and be inspired by this celebrated Impressionist artist.”

David Ummels, Founder of Art for Guernsey, said: “This incredible project is the cumulation of thousands of hours of collective work over a period of almost four years, and I wish to express a debt of gratitude to Cyrille Sciama and the Giverny Museum, for the absolutely key role that they played in making this exhibition possible.” 

Credit: Art for Guernsey

The Renoir journey began for Art for Guernsey when they curated the Renoir Walk in 2019. Now a permanent fixture in the Moulin Huet valley, the walk is a self-guided alfresco exhibition that allows participants to see the bay from the same perspectives as Renoir did.

David Ummels added: “The inspiration Renoir found on the island, and at Moulin Huet in particular, is not well documented. Renoir was coming close to the end of his Impressionist period and was looking for new ideas to move away from portraiture. He was captivated by the nude bathers he saw at Moulin Huet, especially at a time when people were bathing fully dressed in France. That brought him back to antiquity, the old masters and Watteau, and it is highly likely that his experience in Guernsey helped him to make the shift towards painting nudes in landscapes.”

Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands, situated just 30 miles from the coast of France and 70 miles from England. It can be reached by plane in 40 minutes from the UK, or by ferry in around three hours.

If you or your group would like to include a visit to Renoir in Guernsey, 1883 on a tailor-made tour of Guernsey in the Channel Islands this autumn, please do contact our friendly team today. Or perhaps you would like to enjoy a Culture Tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2024 - if so, we can help.