Thursday, February 17, 2011

One of my favorites

While attending an event at the Gibbes Museum of Art, I rediscovered the portrait of Mrs. Pierre Gautreau, or more well known as Madame X. I've always loved John Singer Sargent's work and I love the story of Madame X. Deborah Davis' book Strapless is about Madame X and her fall from Parisian society. The portrait at the Gibbes post-dates the Sargent painting.  I'm not quite sure why or how this portrait ended up in Charleston, South Carolina, but I'm quite glad it did. 

Madame Pierre Gautreau, 1897, by Antonio de la Gandara

Madame X, John Singer Sargent


Incomplete Study for Madame X, John Singer Sargent

Madame X in Sargent's Studio


Oil Sketch of Madame X Giving a Toast, John Singer Sargent




2 comments:

  1. Love that painting too- did not know the painting was as the Gibbes. I am featuring lavender and have this X lined up to touch- the book is good and I will dig it off the shelf.

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  2. Hi William your wonderful post are not showing up in my blog updates I have to figure that out. I did not know about the Madame Pierre Gautreau, portrait by Antonio de la Gandara. You can tell it is Madam X by her distinctive profile. I have been to her family plantation in Louisiana and her child hood home her birth name was Virginie Avegno, later known as Mrs. Pierre Gautreau.

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