Artwork
Portrait of Madame Brunet
Portrait of Madame Brunet is an oil painting by the Realist artist Édouard Manet. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.
About this work
The work shows Caroline de Pène, the wife of sculptor Eugène Cyrille Brunet, and was originally a full‑length portrait before Manet trimmed the bottom in 1867.
Portrait of Madame Brunet is an oil painting by French artist Édouard Manet, dated around 1860. The work shows Caroline de Pène, the wife of sculptor Eugène Cyrille Brunet, and was originally a full‑length portrait before Manet trimmed the bottom in 1867.
Manet began the canvas in 1861 and finished it in 1863. According to contemporary critic Duret, the sitter was not considered beautiful, and she reportedly burst into tears when she first saw the finished picture, even though Manet tried to flatter her.
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Overview
Édouard Manet’s oil on canvas portrait of Caroline de Pène, known as Madame Brunet, was begun in 1861 and completed two years later. The work originally presented the sitter in full length, but Manet later trimmed the lower portion in 1867, leaving the current half‑length format.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Caroline de Pène, the wife of sculptor Eugène Cyrille Brunet. Contemporary commentary noted that she was not regarded as conventionally beautiful; despite Manet’s attempt to present her favorably, she is reported to have wept upon first seeing the finished portrait.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the canvas reflects Manet’s early mature style, balancing realistic detail with a loose handling of paint. The composition focuses on the sitter’s upper body and face, allowing subtle tonal variations to convey texture and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Manet worked on the portrait between 1861 and 1863, and the alteration of the canvas in 1867 indicates a later reassessment of its format. The work entered the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, where it is presently displayed.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet was a French modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
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