Family of the artist
Acquired from the above bꦓy 🐭the family of the present owner

Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Renoir portraitiste, 1938, no. 43

Ambroise Vollard, Tableaux, pastels et dessins de Pierre-Auguste Renoir, vol. II, Paris, 1918, illustrated p. 44

Very good condition. Canvas is unlined. Under UV Light: no apparent inpainting.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Fig. 1  Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Gabrielle à la rose, 1911, oil on canvas, Musée d'Orsay, Paris

The free brushstrokes and warm tones of this female portrait exemplify the spirit of the artist's final y꧂ears. The painter, suffering from rheumatism and gradually losing the use of his limbs, had begun to work with the paintbrush between his thumb and index finger. He sought to obtain the richest effects through the simplest means, minimizing his palette in order to retain absolute control over his materials and the results he drew from them. He liked to give color to his 𒀰canvases "with nothing but one tone" as in the harmonious reds of this portrait.

In the same vein as certain other portraits by Renoir from the same period, the model portrayed is characterized by elegant posture, smooth and regular features, and a thoughtful gaze. If Renoir privileges a mode of composition borrowed from conventional portraiture, the creation of his canvas is nevertheless free and spontane🐠ous. The young woman appears against a red backdrop, in indeterminate surroundings. Varying his touch, the artist creates the background with fluid strokes, smearing the paint, while on the face of the young woman he meticulously applies color and uses subtle impasto to highlight her features.