Louvre Abu Dhabi welcomes a new Renoir masterpiece, adding a fresh highlight to its permanent galleries. The museum will display Pierre‑Auguste Renoir’s double portrait, painted in 1894, for a one‑year period. Titled “Berthe Morisot and Her Daughter, Julie Manet,” the work depicts the French Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot alongside her daughter Julie.
Magdalena Ruiz, senior curator at Louvre Abu Dhabi, calls the painting a masterpiece of Impressionism. She notes that it opens conversations about friendship, family, motherhood and the social changes that marked the end of the 19th century. Ruiz also points out that the portrait offers a way to discuss the evolving status of women artists during that era. “Renoir's painting adds to the collection’s wider cross‑cultural narrative.”
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, says the addition enriches the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection’s cross‑cultural narrative. He stresses that the work “adds a new dimension to this ongoing dialogue, inviting fresh perspectives on our shared artistic heritage.”
The painting joins a series of works from the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection that have been shown at the museum. Earlier presentations at Manarat Al Saadiyat in 2025 featured pieces by Nicolas Poussin, Pierre Bonnard, Zao Wou‑Ki, Jean‑Baptiste‑Simeon Chardin and Jean‑Michel Basquiat.
Beyond its artistic merit, the portrait carries personal history. Morisot appears in black, reflecting her widowhood after the death of her husband Eugene Manet, brother of Édouard Manet. She died a year after the painting was completed, when Julie was sixteen. Julie later organised a major exhibition to preserve her mother’s legacy.
Visitors to the museum can photograph the painting, and the work also highlights the broader role of women in art and the shifting cultural landscape of the late 1800s.
As the museum prepares for future expansions, a new performing‑arts centre designed by Frank Gehry is slated to open in Abu Dhabi in 2030, underscoring the emirate’s ongoing commitment to cultural development.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Renoir painting open at Louvre Abu Dhabi? The painting will be displayed for a one‑year period starting soon, forming part of the museum’s summer lineup.
Who are depicted in Renoir’s ‘Berthe Morisot and Her Daughter, Julie Manet’? The double portrait shows French Impressionist painter Berthe Morisot together with her daughter Julie Manet.
Why is the painting important for the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection? It adds a new dimension to the collection’s cross‑cultural narrative, highlighting Impressionist themes of family, motherhood and the evolving status of women artists.
Are visitors allowed to photograph the painting? Yes, visitors can photograph the work while it is on display in the permanent galleries.
How does the portrait reflect the role of women in art? The portrait underscores the shifting cultural landscape of the late 1800s and serves as a platform to discuss the evolving status of women artists during that era.
Source: The National News
