Luncheon of the Boating Party

Luncheon of the Boating Party is a painting created by the famous French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1881. The painting depicts Renoir's friends on a balcony overlooking the Seine at his favorite restaurant, the Maison Fournaise in Chatou. The restaurant was a gathering place of many social classes in the second half of the 19th century. In this painting Renoir used subtle shading and light, and expressive facial details. The painting was bought by Duncan Phillips for $125,000 in 1923 and is kept at The Phillips Collection.