Portrait of Mme Gaston Menier
1892
François Flameng captured the ultimate Gilded Age flex in this 1892 portrait of Madame Gaston Menier, heiress to the famous French chocolate fortune. She’s practically drowning in luxury, sporting a shimmering white satin gown with an intricately embroidered bodice and a fur stole so massive it looks like it could swallow her whole. The artist’s attention to the rustling fabric and her confident, sideways glance perfectly nails the vibe of a woman who knows she’s at the top of the social ladder. It’s a masterclass in showing off wealth without saying a single word!
- Technique
- Oil painting