L'Allee Au Bois by Renoir Now at the Ulster Museum Belfast

I've dropped into the fabulous, free to the public, treasure, that is the Ulster Museum in Belfast. The museum is a must see if you live here or if you are just passing through.
The great news is that L'Allee Au Bois, a rare landscape by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, has been has been acquired by National Museums NI, and is now on display in the art level of the museum. This is the first French Impressionist painting in a public collection here.
Those who know art will know that Renoir was one of the leaders of Impressionism in Paris during the 1870s and 1880s.
L’Allee Au Bois ( 'A path through the woods.' ) was painted in a wood near Paris around 1874-1880. Renoir’s delicate brushstrokes are described as combining to give the viewer the sense of entering a woodland where a light breeze gently rustles the leaves and grasses in the heat of a summer’s afternoon. The painting like all impressionist paintings is best viewed from several yards away and not close up.
It is wonderful that Belfast has acquired this piece from such a recognized renowned artist.

[@paulpayton8238]

I love anything like this Tom thanks for sharing this 😮

[@TomMcClean]

Ad may thanks to you Paul for your encouragements! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@joanburnison8071]

Beautiful Tom. Thank you 😊

[@TomMcClean]

Thanks Joan. Now in our Ulster Museum!

[@flowerfairy1950]

Hi Tom, I am very fond of Impressionism and I think it would be sad if Art was devalued by the masses in these difficult times. Culture is very important. The Ulster Museum must be delighted with this acquisition. As an aside I am currently reading 'Two Lives in Colour Fred Dubery and Joanne Brogden' by Ian Collins and awaiting my attention is 'John Craxton A Life of Gifts' again by Ian Collins. As I am now Aged (though not quite decrepit) I realise all the things I have missed along life's way. Ooooops! I'm waffling. Thanks for sharing Tom 😊 FF

[@TomMcClean]

Ah FF. We both made necessary choices right throughout our lives. I know now many of the things I should have done but I've had a brilliant life in general, so far, so I don't dwell too much on the things I missed out. You can't do everything. Have you ever read about Vincent van Gogh? Well he's another one to add to your to do list. A fascinating but troubled life. I waffle all the time.

[@flowerfairy1950]

@@TomMcClean I recently bought a Video 'Sunflowers The Mystery of Van Gogh's Greatest Masterworks' from Exhibition on Screen (UK). I have bought a few from them; the next I think will be Mary Cassat. Exhibition on Screen give you three choices of how to purchase the only one available to me here was the DVD.

[@TomMcClean]

Ah FF As usual you are way way ahead of me! I might have known!!!!!!

[@johnstewart4281]

Renoir clearly inspired by the dark hedges! John

[@TomMcClean]

LOL John!

[@chriswardlow9441]

Would certainly like to have a look round here Tom, but I'm not really into this sort of art so i would probably not bother with this section of the museum.

[@TomMcClean]

LOL Chris. Each to their own. I studied history of Art at O levels. So I know a lot of these painters.

[@daveyoung445]

The art display at the Ulster museum is the biggest waste of resources our little island has ever spent..

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Dave. Well you are entitled to that opinion. I do understand what you are saying. Personally I'm not 'sold on', 'modern' art whether it be in sculpture form or painting. I would scrap all the daft formless stuff that looks like a 3 year old has done it. Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@daveyoung445]

@@TomMcClean if I need an "expert" to tell me why your piece of art is not a monstrosity, then trust me, it is not a work of art... We humour too many talentless no marks in this world Tom.. let's not blow smoke where it is not deserved .

[@TomMcClean]

'We humour too many talentless.' Yes I agree with that. The difficulty is that your appreciated art or my appreciated art may be viewed as rubbish by someone else. I suppose like everything else art will only be judged as great art, by the majority, if big numbers of well heeled people, raise the price of a piece by trying to outbid each other on it. So 'great' art is judged as great art depending on the amount of money people are willing to pay for it. I have no time for such stuff like Picasso or Warhol or Hirst etc etc etc Generally speaking I think that all art is overpriced and over hyped with some artists elevated godlike status by the media. This also applies to the likes of fashion designers or as I can them, dress makers.

[@daveyoung445]

@@TomMcClean it's the id Tom... Validate me.. The human ego..

[@TomMcClean]

Yes Dave in a Godless world money validates everything in one way or another.