The Melodies of Renoir's Colours (Introduction)

Music linked to unique pigment colours, communicating scientific analysis and the painter's life and times.

Colour (pigment) data from analysis of the painting Alphonsine Fournaise (1879) has formed the basis for new music. Melodies were created from the numerical data being assigned to a sound tone. These tones were turned into melodies, and subsequently whole music pieces for the colours red, white and blue.

Art chemical analysts reveals that no two pigments have the same lightwave data. They all have their own 'fingerprints' which means that the music is unique to each colour pigment within the painting.

They can also reveal interesting information behind the painting, such as where Renoir sourced his colours from. The music aims to link to both the scientific process of pigment analysis, as well as provide a sense of Renoir's personality and the atmosphere of his life and times.

The videos allow you to hear the music by Ricky Chaggar, and learn about the information that the pigment analysis tells us.

Alphonsine Fournaise (1879) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919)