MILWAUKEE.- The Milwaukee Art Museum announced that it has received one of the most important acquisitions in its history, Pierre-Auguste Renoir's La Grenouillère, ca. 1870. The painting, by one of the most important French Impressionist painters, is a bequest from the estate of the late Jane Bradley Pettit, a long time benefactor of the Museum. The painting, originally part of the Vogel family collection of Milwaukee and one of the last Renoir river scenes in private hands, had hung in Mrs. Pettit's home since she purchased it in 1999 until her death this past September. "Mrs. Pettit's gift ensures that this important Impressionist work remains in Milwaukee and becomes one of our collection's most significant pieces," said MAM Director Russell Bowman. "This painting is an important work in the history of Impressionism and one that would have been impossible for us to acquire in today's market with out Mrs. Pettit's generous gift." La Grenouillère was a popular leisure destination just outside of Paris along the shore of the Seine River in the 1860's and 70's. The location was also a significant source of inspiration for Renoir and fellow Impressionist painter Claude Monet, both of whom spent much time there working together. Their Grenouillère paintings assumed pivotal roles in the development of their styles of Impressionism. Many of these paintings are now located in some of the world's most important museums. Renoir returned to the area in the early 1870's when he painted this particular work further developing and pushing his individual style. The painting, depicting an elegantly dressed young couple talking amidst a string of boats and dilapidated work shed, presents a quieter side of the bathing, boating, dinning and dancing destination.