If he hadn't dropped out of school because of his family's financial difficulties, Pierre-Auguste Renoir might have been a singer — his gift for singing was well-recognized at school — and the world would have lost a great painter.

The family's dire economic situation forced Renoir to become a painter working at a porcelain workshop. From that point, he later became one of the founding fathers of Impressionism, leaving a rich oeuvre of works favored in museums and exhibitions for decades, especially his lush landscapes and portraits.

Renoir captured fleeting moments and subtle changes in light and luminosity, which rendered his works timeless. His oil painting La Promenade au bord de la mer, created around 1892, depicts the serene sea vistas of the island Noirmoutier off France's western coast.

The painting will be auctioned by Christie's in Hong Kong on March 28 and 29. The auction will also feature noted artists including Rene Magritte, Yayoi Kusama and Zao Wou-ki.

The Hong Kong sales will be followed by another auction in Shanghai on April 3, featuring homegrown artists of repute such as Zeng Fanzhi, Wang Xingwei and Chen Ke.