Renoir's famous 'Luncheon of the Boating Party' has returned to The Phillips Collection, along with many of the museum's other masterworks. An exhibit will run through July 30. Courtesy of THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION Visit the Photo Place

Renoir returns to Phillips

Masterworks including 'Luncheon of the Boating Party' return home to the Phillips Collection in Washington

Date published: 4/20/2006

By SHEILA WICKOUSKI

For THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Sometimes a painting inspires great love. Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" is one such story of a collector's love for a great work.

Long before there was the National Gallery of Art or the Museum of Modern Art--even before there were modern art history books--Duncan Phillips opened his collection so that the public could view works that were the best he could find then, and which have proved to be seminal pieces.

In contrast to other collectors working at the same time (such as the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pa., whose collection boasts 60 Renoirs), Phillips declared that one Renoir was enough for him.

The choice he made was superb.

In 1923 he brought his only Renoir painting, "Luncheon of the Boating Party," back from Paris to join his already impressive collection. That painting would be embraced by the city of Washington like no other, and it would become the signature image of Phillips' new museum.

The work, one of the greatest impressionist paintings ever created, has returned home to Washington, along with several of the museum's best-loved paintings and sculpture. "The Renoir Returns: A Celebration of Masterworks at the Phillips Collection" will be on view through July 30.

What Phillips created was a most pleasant visual history of modern art. Starting with El Greco (Phillips called him the "first impassioned expressionist") and including works by Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Pierre Bonnard, Georges Braque, Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, Phillips' collection is an experience in visual language that engages the senses and excites the spirit.

"Luncheon of the Boating Party," however, would become closely associated with the Phillips Collection.

The work is both complex and endearing. Renoir combined several genres: multiple group portraits, a superb still life of food on the table, and elements of landscape in the background.

Unlike the pastoral scenes of the 18th century, his work contained subjects who were real people comfortably enjoying life. Everyone in the painting has been identified by name and occupation. It is, in turn, easy to identify with them and their celebration of fine food, friendship and good weather.

"Luncheon of the Boating Party" establishes a relationship with the viewer that is not easily defined by its colors and lines.

WHAT: 'The Renoir Returns: A Celebration of Masterworks at the Phillips Collection' WHERE: The Phillips Collection, 21st and Q streets, N.W., Washington WHEN: Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon- 7 p.m.; Thursday evenings, 5-8:30. The exhibit will run through July 30. COST: Adults $9, ages 62 and older and students $7, members and visitors under age 18 admitted free TICKETS: Available at the museum, or at 800/551-SEAT or ticketmaster.com INFO: 202/387-2151, phillipscollection.org

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Date published: 4/20/2006