The Mus�e Renoir was known as the Villa des Collettes when the impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) lived here in the last years of his life. With him were his wife, Aline Charigot, and their sons Pierre, the future actor, Jean, the future film director, and Claude ("Coco"), who inherited the estate and eventually sold it to the town of Cagnes. Jean shot part of one of his last movies here, 1959's "Lunch on the Grass". The museum opened in 1960.

Set in a lush garden of ancient olive trees with great views, the museum includes the separate studio, intact with palettes and brushes and "only" 10 paintings. Henri Matisse came to visit Renoir here in 1917, popping over from his own place in Nice and painting "Olive Trees, Renoir's Garden in Cagnes" and three other canvases.

Renoir, already debilitated by rheumatism, bought the olive and orange farm in 1907 and expanded the garden into a landscaped park. By the following year he needed walking sticks and in 1912 his legs and arms became paralysed and he was confined to a wheelchair. Despite the claim of some websites, Renoir is not buried in Cagnes-sur-Mer but in Essoyes, far to the north.

The photo shows Renoir and Aline with Coco. The painting is "Landscape near Cagnes" from 1902.

More information, in French, from Chez.com.