Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A great muse is hard to find.
For Pierre-Auguste Renoir, that muse was Nini Lopez, an artists' model from Montmartre, who was among the artist’s favourite models between 1874 and 1879 — the height of Renoir’s Impressionist period. Her delicate features appear in more than 20 of his paintings and in various guises, including his iconic 'La Loge' (1874, The Courtauld Institute, London).
In this gallery talk, Head of Research Annabel Matterson and Specialist Emma Boyd take you inside Renoir’s 'La femme aux lilas' (1876–1877), the largest known single-figure painting of Nini remaining in private hands. In this work, Nini is pictured in a moment of peaceful introspection. She clutches a bouquet of lilac, their delicacy and luminosity matched by her own youthful beauty.
In 1929, 'La femme aux lilas' was acquired by Joan Whitney Payson, one of the 20th century's great collectors (as well as co-founder of the New York Mets). After nearly a century in the family's collection, this magnificent Renoir arrives at auction, ready to bring joy to a new owner.
🔗 Discover the story of this exceptional portrait from The Collection of Lorinda Payson de Roulet: https://www.christies.com/lot/pierre-auguste-renoir-1841-1919--6585786?cid=EM_SM_O_YT_Inc_LDP___2426...
🗓️ 20th Century Evening Sale | New York | 18 May
A great muse is hard to find.
For Pierre-Auguste Renoir, that muse was Nini Lopez, an artists' model from Montmartre, who was among the artist’s favourite models between 1874 and 1879 — the height of Renoir’s Impressionist period. Her delicate features appear in more than 20 of his paintings and in various guises, including his iconic 'La Loge' (1874, The Courtauld Institute, London).
In this gallery talk, Head of Research Annabel Matterson and Specialist Emma Boyd take you inside Renoir’s 'La femme aux lilas' (1876–1877), the largest known single-figure painting of Nini remaining in private hands. In this work, Nini is pictured in a moment of peaceful introspection. She clutches a bouquet of lilac, their delicacy and luminosity matched by her own youthful beauty.
In 1929, 'La femme aux lilas' was acquired by Joan Whitney Payson, one of the 20th century's great collectors (as well as co-founder of the New York Mets). After nearly a century in the family's collection, this magnificent Renoir arrives at auction, ready to bring joy to a new owner.
🔗 Discover the story of this exceptional portrait from The Collection of Lorinda Payson de Roulet: https://www.christies.com/lot/pierre-auguste-renoir-1841-1919--6585786?cid=EM_SM_O_YT_Inc_LDP___2426...
🗓️ 20th Century Evening Sale | New York | 18 May
