Portrait of Victor Chocquet is a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir dated back to 1875. The painting features an avid supporter of the Impressionist movement and a collector of works by Renoir, Monet, and Cézanne. Chocquet commissioned the French artist to paint his portrait alongside a Delacroix painting from his collection.
In the portrait, Renoir painted Chocquet in casual attire, acknowledging him as the inheritor of Delacroix’s approach to color. The painting includes one of Delacroix’s preparatory studies from Chocquet’s collection in the background. It was said that Chocquet defended Impressionist painters against mockery and insults since he was also senior editor at the Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes.
Today, Portrait Of Victor Chocquet is located in the Fogg Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it is admired by art enthusiasts who visit the museum. This masterpiece is not only significant for its aesthetical value but also for its historical significance as it shows Renoir’s admiration for an important figure that supports and follows the impressionist movement closely.
In summary, Portrait of Victor Chocquet painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir showcases one individual’s love towards an art form that deprived recognition during its era. By depicting him with Delacroix paintings himself collected along with his casual attire, this piece portrays Mr.Chouchet on how he lived up consistently defending Impressionism against criticism at customs administration offices where he worked until retirement age likely to encourage young artists who showcased their work through new perspectives without any fear or hesitation
