Born
as Virginie Avegno (1859-1915), Madame Pierre Gautreau
was an American from New Orleans brought to Paris
by her French mother following the death of Virginie's
father. She married Banker Pierre Gautreau and entered
into a long career as a celebrity of Parisian high
society.
Sargent
specifically requested Gautreau to model for him,
and after being accepted he took nearly a year of
on-and-off work to complete the image. At the Salon
exhibit of 1884, the image in it's original state
(shoulder strap slipped down) caused a great deal
of negative comment, such that Sargent, who kept the
painting hanging in his studio for over twenty-years,
painted out the offending strap.
Related:
Sargent's watercolor of Gautreu here.
(Below)
Original composition as exhibited at the French Salon
of 1884 (click to view larger 500 pixel wide image
here)
