Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) was born to artisan
parents who recognized their son's artistic talents early
in his life and steered him towards a life as an artist. A
devoted father and lover of children, many of his works
are of his own children and the children of others. Both
of his older sons, Pierre and Jean were drafted in 1914
when Germany declared war on France. His wife Aline
died in 1915 right after visiting her second son Jean who
had been seriously wounded. Jean recovered and joined
the air force and later became an artist himself working
as an accomplished movie director.

Portrait of Jean Drawing was completed in 1901. Jean was
Renoir's second of three sons. Jean is the subject of many
works by his father. He was embarrassed by at least one of
his father's portraits of him which the family kept hanging at
home. The painting depicts Jean in a lace-trimed Fauntleroy
suit and long hair with a hair bow.

Jean at 5 or 6 years of age   

Jean Renoir at age 45