Madame X (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau)
John Singer Sargent · 1884
Why it's great
A stylish Parisian socialite stands in a plunging black dress, her skin pale and her head turned in profile. When Sargent showed it in 1884, people were scandalized — especially because one dress strap had slipped off her shoulder. He repainted it to the right place, but the damage to his Paris career was done. Today it's one of the greatest portraits of elegance and confidence.
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
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John Singer Sargent was born in Florence, Italy, to American parents and grew up traveling around Europe. He trained in Paris, then worked mostly in London, becoming the most sought-after portrait painter of his day. He painted with dazzling, confident brushwork and also made lovely watercolors on trips to Venice and the Alps. During World War I he painted soldiers at the front. He died in London in 1925.
