The first publication of the Renoir digital catalogue raisonné from the Wildenstein Plattner Institute leverages expanded capabilities of the Navigating.art platform
The Wildenstein Plattner Institute (WPI) has reached a significant milestone with the publication of the first phase of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s digital catalogue raisonné using the Navigating.art platform. Lisa Weiß, product lead at Navigating.art, expressed the excitement surrounding the release: “It’s a long-awaited achievement, not only for the researchers but also for the broader art community.” This project, years in the making, is an invaluable resource for scholars and enthusiasts and a testament to the potential of digital tools to expand access to and understanding of Impressionist art.
Phase one: 450 still life and genre paintings
This initial release includes 450 works, focusing on Renoir’s still-life paintings. The decision to begin with this genre reflects a careful consideration of the thematic and logistical complexities involved in cataloging an artist of Renoir’s stature. As Jennifer Gimblett, research director at WPI, explains, “This is one of the first comprehensive efforts to document Renoir’s works systematically across archives and collections. While the basis of our archive and research began in the 1930s, it wasn’t until 2003, when the Renoir Committee was created at the former Wildenstein Institute, that the foundation for this catalogue was built.”
Gimblett highlights the sheer volume and intricacy of Renoir’s output, noting that the artist's prolific nature, especially in the realm of still lifes, posed unique challenges. “Renoir was incredibly productive, and the still lifes are complicated to catalogue in part because of their repeated subjects and similar titles,” she adds. The WPI’s research team has worked tirelessly to sift through a vast amount of archival material, collaborating with institutions like the Archives Durand-Ruel in Paris. She notes, “It’s been a monumental task to connect all the dots and refine our understanding of these paintings, so we are incredibly grateful to all of the collaborators who have helped us along the way.”
Technological innovations helping to expand scholarly research
Explore Renoir’s history of dividing and reframing paintings
Renoir’s digital catalogue raisonné integrates new features on the Navigating.art platform that helped the research team manage and publish the large volume of artworks. One of the most useful functionalities is “related images,” which allows users to explore fragmented works and their historical contexts. This feature is particularly poignant for Renoir, as his artistic practice included painting several compositions on a single canvas that were later separated by his dealers or collectors.
Gimblett elaborates: "Renoir’s canvases that contained a series of small vignettes or compositions were often split apart into multiple, separate artworks and sold independently of one another. Our researchers have been able to identify the various fragments that once made up an intact canvas using our extensive collection of archival photographs. The ‘related images’ feature allows the research team to provide access to these resources and the opportunity for the public to see the works as they were originally executed, alongside beautiful color images of the artwork as it appears today."
One strong example is the artwork Fleurs - Fragment, which originated as part of a painted border that Renoir had intended to use as a decorative frame for his Portrait de Madame de Galéa. The related images included on the artwork page of the catalogue raisonné enable readers to see the artwork in the original canvas via archival images.
Archive credits: Pierre-Auguste Renoir [Restricted], Ambroise Vollard Records [jo924zs1], The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc; First state of the artwork. Pierre-Auguste Renoir [Restricted], Ambroise Vollard Records [jo924zs1], The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc.
Roses blanches - Fragment from 1912 was also removed from a canvas with several small compositions, visible in previously unpublished photographs.
Archive credit: Previously unpublished photograph. Pierre-Auguste Renoir [Restricted], Ambroise Vollard Records [jo924zs1], The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc; Photograph signed by the artist and dated 6 janvier 1912, Archive Cagnes [Restricted], Pierre-Auguste Renoir Research Archive [7o1p1cyz], The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc.
Melon et pêches can also be seen to be removed from a larger composition.
Archive credit: Pierre-Auguste Renoir [Restricted], Ambroise Vollard Records [jo924zs1], The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc.; Archive Succession Renoir [Restricted], Pierre-Auguste Renoir Research Archive [jo923mwt], The Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc.
Isabel Flores, product manager at Navigating.art, also emphasizes the significance of this innovation: “The ability to connect these fragments to their original compositions through historical photographs offers both scholars and the public a deeper understanding of Renoir’s oeuvre.” These fragments often provide crucial insight into how Renoir developed his compositions, revealing the artist’s creative process and evolving technique.
Discover works by precise keyword
Gimblett also notes that keywords have been integrated to assist in navigating the vast number of works, with specific search terms for motifs like “roses,” “anemones,” or “apples,” which appear frequently in Renoir’s still lifes. “These search features, including the keyword tagging and related images, will make it much easier for users to hone in on the works they’re particularly interested in,” Gimblett explains. “For example, we’ve included very specific keywords for certain flowers, fruits, and even animals in Renoir’s still lifes, searchable in English or French. If you are hoping to find all the various vases used by the artist over time, for example, you can now select “vase” and filter out any still life that does not contain one. These details might seem small, but they really help to make the catalogue more user-friendly and will become increasingly more helpful as more artworks and subjects are added to the database.”
Looking ahead to more from the Renoir catalogue raisonné
The first phase of Renoir’s digital catalogue raisonné is just the beginning. The project lays a strong foundation for future expansions, which will encompass Renoir’s portraits, landscapes, and other iconic pieces. As Gimblett shares, “While we began with still lifes, we’re already thinking ahead to the next phases. We’re considering thematic groupings like nudes or portraits, and we’re continuously expanding our archives. It’s exciting to know that as the database grows, so will the possibilities for understanding Renoir’s vast body of work.”
The catalogue promises to become an indispensable resource for researchers, curators, enthusiasts, and educators worldwide. As new works are discovered, they will be added to the database, further enriching the catalogue and ensuring that it remains a living, evolving tool. “We currently anticipate that the catalogue will grow to include thousands of artworks,” Gimblett says. “While that number is hard to grasp, it speaks to Renoir’s incredible productivity. We are always gathering new information, and the digital format allows us to integrate these findings seamlessly."
This achievement reminds us of the power of collaboration between art historians, technologists, and institutions. By leveraging digital tools, projects like the Renoir catalogue raisonné preserve cultural heritage while pushing the boundaries of how we study and appreciate art in the digital age. “It’s gratifying for the research team to see all of their years of work come together,” Gimblett reflects. “And I think it’s going to be amazing for the broader public to finally have access to such a comprehensive resource.”
The WPI’s ongoing work on the Renoir catalogue raisonné underscores the growing importance of digital catalogues raisonnés in art historical scholarship. By making comprehensive, well-organized data widely accessible, these tools expand the study of art history and open new avenues for interdisciplinary research.
