BACK TO THE ARTIST   The Large Bathers, 1884-1887           Details     Description     Artist Renoir, Pierre-Auguste This is a late work ofRenoir’s, done at a time when he had started to renounce Impressionist doctrine to introduce s harder more precise modeling into his work. The theme is taken from a sculptural relief at Versailles by the 17th century sculptor Francois Giradon. The painter’s fantasy took flight here as he depicts the girls sporting and frolicking like nymphs in a Golden Arcady on the Seine. The girl in the center, so nicely revealed, was his good friend and model , Suzanne Valadon. It is interesting to compare it with Cezanne’s treatment of the same theme, so entirely different in character.     Date 1884-1887   Institution Philadelphia Museum of Art     Medium Oil on canvas   Dimensions 117.8 x 170.8 cm