Portrait De Romaine Lacaux is an early Impressionism style painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir that depicts an ideal of delicate, youthful beauty. It was painted in 1864 when Renoir was still an apprentice, staying at an artist’s colony in Barbizon, near Paris. The commission came from the vacationing Lacaux family. Renoir is considered one of the greatest painters of all time and this painting shows the traits that would make him so renowned.
The portrait shows a young woman with a soft and feminine expression, wearing a floral dress with lace trimmings which suggests her youthfulness and purity. The flower she holds adds to her femininity while also hinting at her innocence. Renoir used subtle brushwork and varying hues to capture the delicate features of Romaine’s face and clothing, creating a warm aura around her.
This cherished classic is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art and is one of Renoir’s earliest signed canvas works. Its current estimated value ranges from $10 million to $20 million but has sold for as much as $78.1 million at fine art auctions worldwide. Portrait De Romaine Lacaux continues to be admired by generations for its stunningly portrayed message on beauty that transcends time.
