Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner | 16.25" x 12" | Original Stone Lithograph, c.1900 | from the Edition of 100 

Created circa 1900, this work belongs to a body of images that were inspired by a brief encounter Renoir had with Richard Wagner in Palermo, January 1882. During this meeting Renoir sketched Wagner for a brief twenty five minutes; nonetheless, the session resulted in two painted works and this lithograph. Printed by Auguste Clot on Japan paper, this work was published by Ambroise Vollard and is from an edition of 100. Closely related to the 1882 portrait of Richard Wagner, held in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay, this lithograph exhibits a strong impressionistic and gestural quality. The artist's manipulation of the plate captures a sense of urgency and speed, allowing Renoir to depict not only the physical but mental likeness of the famous composer. With this work, the artist captures a sense of the momentary urgency that must have been present during the short encounter that inspired this work.

This work is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts.

1. Delteil, Loys, L'Oeuvre Gravé et Lithographié, 1999, listed on page 72-73 as plate 33.

2. Roger-Marx, Claude, Les Lithographies de Renoir, 1951, listed on pages 40-41 as plate 8.

3. Stella, Joseph G., The Graphic Work of Renoir, listed as plate 33.