Artistic Endeavors

Yesterday's Art Talk was about 'Scandals, Schemes and Scalawags. By Mary Ellet Sweeney.

Georges De La Tour: The Fortune Teller

Young fop, having his fortune told and being robbed by the Gypsies at the same time.

Edward Manet: Luncheon on the Grass

Public was appalled, in part because they knew exactly who the three people in the forground were. Mary compared it to seeing Joan Foster naked, and two city councilmen clothed.

John Singer Sargent: Madame X

Madam X (Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau) was originally painted with one strap hanging down over her shoulder. Public was so upset at the first showing, that he re-painted the strap as above. Mary said that she was famous for being famous, like Paris Hilton. I recently read a novel of the incident: 'Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the fall of Madame X' by Deborah Davis.