Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau)
1883-84
This delicate pencil sketch captures the elegant profile of Virginie Gautreau, the subject of John Singer Sargent's most controversial masterpiece. Sargent was so captivated by her 'unpaintable' beauty that he pursued her for a portrait, hoping it would revive his career in Paris. Instead, the final oil painting caused a massive scandal at the 1884 Salon due to her powdery pale skin and a suggestive dress strap, forcing Sargent to repaint the strap and eventually flee to London. This quiet study reveals the refined features he was so determined to capture before the drama unfolded.
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