Jewish Patrons: The Career Choices of Pierre-Auguste Renoir

More than any of his contemporaries, he was committed to chronicling fleeting moments of love, candid domesticity, and the sociability of dance halls and theatres.

To coincide with the exhibition at the National Gallery, Renoir and Love (3 October 2026- 31 January 2027), this talk will examine Renoir’s complex relationship with his Jewish patrons and his transition from Impressionist style to more classical sculptural compositions.

Sophie Lachowsky is an art historian, lecturer and writer, working with leading institutions and private galleries in the culture and heritage sectors. She graduated from the Courtauld Institute with an MA in History of Art, with a focus on post-war abstraction, on which she has published in academic journals and exhibition catalogues. Sophie strongly believes in the power of art, to shape our thinking. She is enthusiastic about creating a rich, interdisciplinary perspective that appeals to a multigenerational audience.