Lucie Berard (Child in White)
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
61.3 × 49.8 cm (24 3/8 × 19 5/8 in.); Framed: 84.2 × 73.1 × 9.6 cm (33 1/8 × 28 3/4 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
painting
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
16600
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was celebrated in his lifetime for capturing the nuanced expressions of childhood. Recognizing this, his patron Paul-Antoine Berard commissioned the artist to paint a number of portraits of his four children, in addition to likenesses of himself and his wife. Here, Renoir portrayed Lucie, Berard’s youngest and one of the artist’s favorite models, as the picture of innocence at three years old. Her small hands, positioned rather formally at her sides, lack the accessories, l...
Art Historical Context
Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s *Lucie Berard (Child in White)* captures the quiet charm of childhood through the eyes of one of Impressionism’s most celebrated figures. Painted in 3, the work belongs to a period when Renoir was exploring portraiture with growing attention to structure and form while still celebrating the luminous effects of light. The young sitter, dressed in a simple white garment, becomes a study in softness and innocence, reflecting the era’s fascination with domestic scenes and the natural grace of children. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting demonstrates Renoir’s mastery of delicate brushwork and subtle color harmonies. The medium allowed him to layer translucent tones that suggest the texture of fabric and the gentle modeling of skin, creating a sense of warmth and immediacy. At just over 24 by 20 inches, the intimate scale invites close viewing, drawing visitors into a private moment preserved for more than a century. Now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s distinguished collection of European painting, this portrait offers a window into late-nineteenth-century French society and Renoir’s enduring ability to find beauty in everyday subjects.
About the Artist
Pierre-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...