A Girl with a Watering Can (Une jeune fille avec un arrosoir)
Painting, Oil on Canvas • Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841–1919)
Style & Movement
Impressionism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing soft, feathery brushstrokes, broken color, and a lack of harsh outlines typical of the artist's mature Impressionist style.
Creation Period
1876
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 100 x 73 cm (39.5 x 28.75 in), vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
A charming portrait of a young girl standing in a garden, dressed in a bright blue dress with a white lace collar and a blue bow in her hair. She holds a small green watering can and a flower, symbolizing youthful innocence and the beauty of nature. The composition is centered and intimate, focusing on the girl's porcelain-like features and the vibrant garden backdrop.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a museum environment.
Estimated Market Value
$40,000,000 - $60,000,000 (Based on top-tier Renoir provenance and iconicity)
Auction Estimate
$35,000,000 - $55,000,000
Provenance History
Acquired by the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., as part of the Chester Dale Collection in 1963. Previously in private collections in France and the United States.
Art Historical Significance
One of Renoir’s most beloved and iconic paintings, exemplifying his ability to capture light, color, and feminine charm. It represents the height of Impressionism at the time of the movement's second exhibition in 1876.
Notable Features
Distinguished by the vibrant use of 'French Blue,' the delicate rendering of the girl's face, and the lush, dappled sunlight effect on the foliage.
Condition Issues
Minor surface craquelure consistent with age; stable and well-maintained.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (45-55% RH) and temperature (18-22°C); low UV lighting; permanent display in its historic frame.