Montblanc turns to the language of art once again. With its latest Masters of Art edition, Montblanc focuses on the legacy of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The collection highlights the artist’s signature approach to light and human expression, while also acknowledging his beginnings in porcelain painting, an influence seen in the collection’s choice of textures and finishes
The collection uses the golden ratio to frame each design, with editions that reflect different parts of the artist’s work. Materials and detailing stay true to both the artist’s spirit and Montblanc’s design approach.
The Masters of Art Homage to Pierre-Auguste Renoir Limited Edition 4810 references Renoir’s lifelong fascination with colour and nature. The cap and barrel are made from olive wood, nodding to the olive groves at his estate, Les Collettes, in southern France. Strokes of hand-applied paint in green, blue, yellow, light rose, and grey reflect the tonal energy of Renoir’s brushwork.
A blue Montblanc emblem sits atop the cap in precious resin, recalling Renoir’s words: “One morning, one of us, lacking black, used blue: Impressionism was born.” A gold-coated clip shaped like two different paintbrushes illustrates the artist’s evolving style, while the year “1874” engraved on the cap ring marks the first Impressionist exhibition. The solid Au 750 yellow gold nib is decorated with a folding fan—an element often seen in Renoir’s portraits while the Ag 925 silverpoint tip at the cone is both a technical feature and a reference to his drawing skills.
The Limited Edition 888 looks back at Renoir’s early training as a porcelain painter. The design features a translucent white lacquer surface and a cap motif framed in solid Au 750 yellow gold, showcasing a flower detail drawn from his porcelain work. The cap and barrel include Louis XVI-style engravings, drawing from 19th-century French silverwork. The cap ring bears the engraving “1854,” the year Renoir began his porcelain apprenticeship. The nib repeats the fan motif and is partly rhodium-coated, while the cone in solid gold contrasts with the Ag 925 silverpoint tip. The Montblanc emblem is made of mother-of-pearl and surrounded by layered shades of blue.
The Limited Edition 161 highlights Renoir’s “Période Nacrée” or “pearly period,” a time when his palette softened into luminous whites and pinks. The edition features mother-of-pearl inlays on the barrel and a finely sculpted relief of Woman with a Hat on the sterling silver cap. The year “1888,” engraved on the cap ring, marks the start of this artistic period. The nib bears the Greek letter phi (Φ), symbolizing the golden ratio and Renoir’s use of floral elements. The Montblanc emblem is set in bluish-violet stripe chalcedony, a subtle nod to the iridescence found in his work.
The Limited Edition 92 draws from Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880–1881), one of Renoir’s most recognized works. The cap, made of solid Au 750 gold, is engraved with a braid pattern reminiscent of the straw hats worn in the painting. The barrel features hand-painted lacquer inlays echoing the striped awning from the scene. The cone, also in solid gold, includes a solid Au 999 gold tip designed for sketching.
The Montblanc emblem, crafted from mother-of-pearl, is set in Kalahari Jasper, echoing the warm tones of Renoir’s composition. The nib features a motif inspired by his 1899 self-portrait. The edition is limited to 92 pieces in reference to 1892, when Renoir’s Two Young Girls at the Piano was acquired by the Musée du Luxembourg—the first Impressionist work to enter a national museum.
The most exclusive piece, the Limited Edition 8, is shaped by The Great Bathers and Renoir’s “Ingresque period” between 1883 and 1887, a phase where his style leaned towards structure and precision. The year “1883” is engraved on the cap ring, marking the start of this transition. The cap and barrel, crafted from Au 750 gold, are hand-lacquered in the colour palette of the painting.
The central figure seen from the back is engraved in gold using the Bulino technique, a method involving thousands of micro-engravings to capture light and depth. The barrel is framed with a hand-engraved gold overlay styled like a vintage picture frame. The cap fittings are set with rings of brilliant-cut diamonds, as is the gold cone. The nib, also adorned with a brilliant-cut diamond, is engraved with Renoir’s self-portrait from 1899. The Montblanc diamond crowns the cap, and the gold base beneath it features a guilloché pattern that matches its shape.
The collection also includes a notebook with Landscape (1916) by Renoir on the cover, along with Montblanc’s deep purple ink and cufflinks made from steel, sodalite, and mother-of-pearl.
The Montblanc Masters of Art Homage to Pierre-Auguste Renoir collection is available from Montblanc boutiques worldwide and online. Each edition offers a tangible connection to one of Impressionism’s most influential voices, translated through meticulous craftsmanship and crafted design.
