Pauline Viardot
1859
Meet Pauline Viardot, the 19th-century opera diva who was basically the Beyoncé of the Romantic era. In this 1859 illustration by Edmond Morin, she’s framed like a classical goddess with a leafy wreath, surrounded by flowers and a scroll of sheet music that nods to her incredible talent as both a singer and composer. She hosted the most famous salons in Paris, where giants like Chopin and Liszt hung out just to be near her musical genius, making this floral portrait a perfect tribute to the ultimate arts influencer.