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The Story Of A Portrait – Sargents Portrait Of Madame X

John Singer Sargents portrait of Madame X is classic painting that is one of the most famous works by the portrait artist. However the lady who posed for the portrait, Virginie Amélie Avegno regretted sitting for it and it destroyed her position in society. Amelie was American born but moved to Paris with her mother after her father was killed. At 19 she married a forty year old banker and used her new found wealth to build a position as a society figure,

Parisians were impressed by her chic style, slim figure, auburn hair and pale skin. The portrait artist John Singer Sargent persuaded Amélie to pose for him in 1883. Sargent stayed with Amelie and her husband at their summer house in Brittany, doing prelinary sketches and painting the portrait. A striking portrait of Amelie in a simple black evening gown against a cream background higlighting her pale skin. The painting was finished and exhibited at the annual Paris salon.

In Paris, the portrait received a harsh reception from the critics who said the portrait was vulgar and ugly. The critics thought the dropped shoulder strap of the dress was too tarty while her pale skin was said to be like a cadaver. Amélie was mocked in cartoons and fell from being at the top of Paris society. Amelie fell out of the society pages and became a recluse dying in 1915. To us now the portrait looks remarkably modern in both the painting style and her dress. Perhaps it was ahead too advanced for the critics of the day.

John Singer Sargents reputation was hit by the portrait. He eventually repainted the shoulder strap in a straight position and sold the portrait to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His reputation recovered and he is now seen as one of the great portrait artists and the Portrait of Madame X as one of his best paintings.

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