This stunning book is a lavish celebration of Renoir's life, exploring his early formative years and his rapid progression into one of the world's most highly respected Impressionist painters. More than 250 of the artist's better known works are reproduced with amazing clarity, and are a testament to Renoir's diverse talent and imagination. From his subtle, tender images of children in paintings such as Girls at the Piano and The Letter, to his full-textured and opulent paintings such as Sleeping Odalisque and Ode to Flowers, Renoir really was the Workman of Painting. --Naomi Gesinger