Madame X

John Singer Sargent and Virginie Amélie Avegno

Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau), John Singer Sargent, 1884. [Detail]

A New Orleans native, Virginie Amélie Avegno’s odd beauty and natural grace attracted attention in 19th century Paris. In her, J.S. Sargent found his muse — a socialite, named, Madame Gautreau. Sargent wrote to his friend, Vernon Lee, “In a few days I shall be tackling the portrait of a great beauty … she has the most beautiful lines.”

Gautreau was many things to Sargent. Key among them was what she represented: an archetype of the modern female, a representation of the changing times — a Madame ***

He painted her, as he saw her.

Portrait of Mme Pierre Gaudreau (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, b. Louisiana, USA, 1859-d. Cannes, FR, 1915), by Antonio de La Gandara (FR, 1861–1917), 1898

Gautreau was Chic of her day. Cutting edge. “A flamboyant creature of rare beauty”, was the collective sigh of artists who’d seen her.

Known for wearing lipstick on her ears (perhaps as a gesture of goodwill to the men of Paris), she fascinated Sargent — and other artists. Gustave Courtois and Antonio de La Gándara, among others, would paint her, too.