Eugène Murer (Renoir)

Eugène Murer is an oil‑on‑canvas portrait painted by the French Impressionist Pierre‑Auguste Renoir in 1877. The work measures 47 cm × 39.4 cm (19 in × 15.5 in) and depicts Hyacinthe‑Eugène Meunier (1841–1906), a Parisian pastry chef who was also an artist, writer, collector, and patron of the arts. Meunier is more widely known by his nickname Eugène Murer.

Murer was a prominent supporter of the Impressionist movement during the 1870s, though he typically purchased works from the artists at modest prices; Renoir reportedly received about 100 francs for each portrait he sold to Murer. The painting is one of four portraits Renoir created of members of the Murer family, which also include depictions of Murer’s half‑sister Marie and his son Paul.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York acquired Eugène Murer in 2002, where it remains part of the museum’s collection. The portrait is noted for its psychological depth and serves as an example of Renoir’s mature style during the late 1870s.

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