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In his final years, even when he was crippled by muscular rheumatism, the French master found ways of being one with his art. When it became too painful to even hold a brush in his hand, he navigated towards sculpture; with the help of two young sculptors with whom he communicated with exceptional facility he created several works of beauty. Renoir never gave up painting though. On the last day of his life too he painted holding the brush between his twisted fingers.

Renoir’s best paintings are remembered for featuring extraordinarily effervescent portraits, splendid nudes, vibrant landscapes, lively sea-scapes, and colourful still lifes. His outdoor paintings caught the spirit of flashing and flickering light, and portrayed dash, joyfulness and laughter of holidaying men and women. “Dance At The Moulin De La Galette” has often been hailed as the most beautiful picture of the 19th Century.

Painted by Renoir in 1876, it depicts a lively Sunday afternoon at a dance hall in Montmartre. In this painting, well-dressed men and women are seen enjoying themselves in each other’s company; in the background dancing couples are engaged in matching steps while the foreground has people seated on open-air furniture gossiping and drinking.

In its series titled ‘Private Life Of A Masterpiece’, a BBC documentary looks at this painting.

The engrossing tale of “Dance At The Moulin De La Galette” can be watched on BBC World at 5.40 p.m. today; the programme will be repeated at 3.40 p.m. and 10.40 p.m. on January 20.

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