Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings Signed (lower left): Renoir
Gallery Label Nudes and the grand tradition of classical art preoccupied Renoir in the 1880s. In this painting, he paid homage to Ingres's "Grande Odalisque" (Musée du Louvre, Paris), although he transformed Ingres's cool courtesan into a healthy, pink-cheeked girl, and the harem into an Impressionist landscape reminiscent of the Channel coast.
Provenance Arsène Alexandre, Paris (until 1903; his sale, Georges Petit, Paris, May 18–19, 1903, no. 53, for Fr. 4,600 to Viau); George Viau, Paris (1903–07; his sale, Durand-Ruel, Paris, March 4, 1907, no. 54, for Fr 4,750 to Bernheim-Jeune); [Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, from 1907; sold to Durand-Ruel]; [Durand-Ruel, Paris]; [Cassirer, Berlin]; Dr. Max Meirowsky, Geneva (until d. 1949); his heirs (1949–52; sold to Wildenstein); [Wildenstein, New York, 1952–53; sold January 27, 1953 to Haupt]; Mrs. Ira (Enid A.) Haupt, New York (1953–83; sold to Annenberg); her brother and his wife, Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, Rancho Mirage, Calif. (1983–his d. 2002; his bequest to MMA)
Exhibition History Paris. Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées. "Salon d'automne," October 15–November 15, 1904, no. 2 (as "Femme nue").
"XXVI.Austellung der Berliner Secession," 1913, no. 233 (as "Badende").
Geneva. Musée d'Art et d'Histoire. "De Watteau à Cezanne," July 7–September 30, 1951, no. 79 (as "Grande Baigneuse," lent by private collection, Geneva).
New York. Parke-Bernet. "Art Treasures Exhibition," June 16–30, 1955, no. 357 (as "Reclining Nude" lent by Mrs. Ira Haupt).
New York. Wildenstein & Co., Inc.. "Nude in Painting," November 1–December 1, 1956, no. 33 (lent by Mr. and Mrs. Ira Haupt).
New York. Wildenstein & Co., Inc.. "Renoir," April 8–May 10, 1958, no. 46 (lent by Mr. and Mrs. Ira Haupt).
Philadelphia Museum of Art. "Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: The Annenberg Collection," May 21–September 17, 1989, unnumbered cat.
Washington. National Gallery of Art. "Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: The Annenberg Collection," May 6–August 5, 1990, unnumbered cat.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: The Annenberg Collection," August 16–November 11, 1990, unnumbered cat.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: The Annenberg Collection," June 4–October 13, 1991.
References Vittorio Pica. Gl'impressionisti francesi . Bergamo, 1908, p. 91, ill. Katalog der XXVI.Austellung der Berliner Secession . Exh. cat., Secession. Berlin, 1913, p. 42, no. 223, ill. Julius Meier-Graefe. "Renoir." Kunst und Künstler 15 (November 1916), p. 51, ill. De Watteau à Cézanne . Exh. cat., Musée d'Art et d'Histoire. Geneva, 1951, p. 35, no. 79. Paul Georges. "A painter looks at: a) the nude, b) Corot." Art News 55 (1956), pp. 38–39, ill. (color). Nude in Painting . Exh. cat., New York Wildenstein & Co., Inc. 1956, unpaginated, no. 33, ill. Renoir . Exh. cat., Wildenstein & Co., Inc. New York, 1958, p. 60, no. 46. Vassily Photiadès. Renoir Nudes . 1st ed. 1960. Lausanne, 1964, unpaginated, ill. François Daulte. "Figures." Auguste Renoir: Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre peint . 1, Lausanne, 1971, unpaginated, no. 435, ill. (b&w and color [p. 48]). Elda Fezzi. L'opera completa di Renoir . repr., 1981. Milan, 1972, p. 114, no. 573, ill. Max-Pol Fouchet. Les Nus de Renoir . Paris, 1974, pp. 89, 131, ill. Colin B. Bailey in Masterpieces of Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: The Annenberg Collection . Exh. cat., Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, 1991, pp. ix, 42–43, 154–55, ill. (color and b&w) [1st edition has different page numbers]. Jérôme Coignard. "Le Salon de peinture de Mr. et Mrs. Annenberg." Beaux arts no. 92 (July–August 1991), p. 69, ill. p. 66 (color). Gary Tinterow. "Miracle au Met." Connaissance des arts no. 472 (June 1991), p. 36.