The Olive Trees of Renoir
The Olive Trees of Renoir
From November 8 to 28, the Stengel Collection in Florence will dedicate an exhibition to “The Olive Trees of Renoir,” featuring paintings by Enzo Maio and photographs by Jacques Renoir taken at Les Collettes.
The final residence of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Les Collettes, is located in Cagnes-sur-Mer. This oasis, set within two hectares of olive and citrus groves, offers a panoramic view stretching to Cap d’Antibes. Renoir, drawn to the light and landscapes of Provence, found in this place the tranquillity to continue painting until the end of his days.
Initially unaware of each other’s work, Enzo Maio and Jacques Renoir both focused on the same subject: the century-old olive trees surrounding the villa that now houses the Renoir Museum. In Enzo Maio’s paintings and Jacques Renoir’s photographs, the timeless charm of a place seemingly immune to change comes alive.
The exhibition, open by appointment, presents around thirty works in a continuous dialogue between photographs and paintings.
Enzo Maio and Jacques Renoir
Jacques Renoir
While many children of artists naturally follow in their parents’ footsteps, for Jacques Renoir, the artistic path was rich with options. He is the great-grandson of one of the world’s most renowned painters, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and the grandson of the master filmmaker, Jean Renoir. Despite this incredible artistic heritage, Jacques was undeterred and developed a clear passion for visual arts and photography from an early age. After completing his studies at the Louis Lumière School of Technical Photography and Cinematography, he worked as an assistant to cinematographers and directors like Vadim, Claude Sautet, Granier Deferre, Edouard Molinaro, Lewis Gilbert, and John Frankenheimer. His curiosity about the world led him aboard Cousteau’s research vessel, Calypso, where he spent seven years documenting ocean expeditions, filming, and directing episodes of the renowned TV series that achieved global success and earned four nominations and an Emmy Award. His work in television also took him to Bangladesh, North Korea, Lebanon, and other countries, before returning to France to focus on television and film projects.
With his photographs, Jacques Renoir has always sought to “look beyond the gaze,” reaching past the surface to express what cannot be conveyed in words. He has consistently advocated for challenging our perception, shaped by our education, culture, and society.
Enzo Maio
A student of Giuseppe Ajmone, Enzo Maio debuted with a solo exhibition in Borgomanero in 1988. Since then, he has continuously exhibited in private galleries and institutional venues nationally and internationally. He has regularly participated in collective exhibitions, thematic shows, and national competitions since 1986. Maio is also actively engaged in graphic design and engraving.
The theme of trees often appears in Enzo Maio’s artistic work, as seen in his series dedicated to the monumental trees of the Aosta Valley and in his lithographic boards accompanied by Ada Merini’s poems about trees.
Enzo Maio lives and works in Ghislarengo, in the province of Vercelli.
The Olive Trees of Renoir
November 8-28, STENGEL COLLECTION
Palazzo Rosselli del Turco, Via dei Serragli 17, Florence
Open by appointment: studioabba@hotmail.com
Phone: +39 340 5779080