A leader in the development of Impressionism, Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born in Limoges, France on the 25th of February 1841. As a boy he painted decorations on fine china or on fans before he went to Paris to study art under Swiss artist, Charles Gleyre.
His work was first exhibited in 1864, although he did not enjoy much success until ten years later when six of his paintings were displayed in the first Impressionist exhibition. He spent some time travelling Europe where he was influenced by the works of Titian and Raphael. He also met the composer Richard Wagner, whose portrait he is said to have painted in a little over half an hour!