Delight as thousands visit Renoir masterpiece

The Umbrellas is said to be one of the greatest works of impressionist art

A piece of impressionist artwork showcased in Leicester drew in almost 42,000 visits over three and a half months.

The Umbrellas by Pierre-Auguste Renoir was displayed at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery as part of celebrations to mark the National Gallery's 200th anniversary.

It was painted between 1881 and 1886 and shows a busy Paris street scene full of people using umbrellas in the rain.

The total number of exhibition visits between 10 May and 1 September was 41,984, with the city council open to similar initiatives in the future.

The painting was the centrepiece of a gallery which was accompanied by a digital installation featuring a newly-commissioned animation from Leicester-based studio Kino Bino.

Its loan was part of the National Gallery's National Treasures, a year-long project which saw 12 important artworks loaned to 12 cities around the country.

The painting was loaned to Leicester Museum by the National Gallery

Assistant city mayor Vi Dempster said it was "a huge privilege to have this masterpiece on display" and a chance for people to see the "diverse range of collections" at the museum.

“We will certainly look to take advantage of any further opportunities to share celebrated works with the people of Leicester through any further loan initiatives like this one," she added.

"We are very proud of our cultural offer in Leicester and we hope that seeing Renoir’s The Umbrellas encourages even more people to discover what our museums have to offer in the future.”

The museum closed to the public on Thursday until 15 September, as maintenance works are carried out.

It will reopen on 16 September but access will be limited to the Dinosaur Gallery and the Leicester Stories Gallery until 21 September.

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