Artwork
Sketches of Heads (The Berard Children)
Sketches of Heads (The Berard Children) is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Auguste Renoir. It dates from 1891 and is held in the collection of the Clark Art Institute.
About this work
Overview
Pierre-Auguste Renoir completed this oil work in 1891. The canvas, now part of the collection at the Clark Art Institute, presents a series of child portraits arranged together, each rendered as an individual head.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features several youngsters ranging from an infant to older children. Their gazes diverge—some meet the viewer directly, others look away or downward—suggesting distinct personalities within the group.
Technique & Style
Renoir employs a palette of muted, pastel tones that lend a gentle, tender quality to the figures. The brushwork softens facial features, emphasizing the innocence and delicate character of each child.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of Renoir’s mature period, the painting entered the Clark Art Institute’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s Impressionist holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on 25 February 1841 in Limoges, the son of a tailor and a seamstress.
