Artwork
Madame Lerolle
Madame Lerolle is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting Madame Lerolle presents a portrait of the woman named in the title, seated and accompanied by a single flower rendered in delicate detail.
The painting Madame Lerolle presents a portrait of the woman named in the title, seated and accompanied by a single flower rendered in delicate detail. The floral element introduces a motif that Fantin-Latour often used in his portraits and still lifes. In this context the blossom can be read as a symbol of feminine grace and the transient nature of beauty, reinforcing the sitter's genteel presence. Together, the figure and flower suggest a meditation on personal refinement and impermanence.
Technique & Style
Created in 1892, Madame Lerolle is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 108.2 cm in height and 78.9 cm in width. Produced in France, the piece utilizes oil paint as its primary medium to render the subject matter.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1892 by Henri Fantin-Latour in France, executed in oil on canvas. It measures 108.2 by 78.9 centimeters. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is held under accession number 1969.54.
No further details about the original commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to the Cleveland Museum of Art are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Henri Fantin-Latour's 1892 oil painting, Madame Lerolle, is a formal portrait depicting a woman in an elegant domestic setting. The work highlights the artist's dual strengths in both portraiture and still life, genres for which he was widely recognized. This painting exemplifies Fantin-Latour's refined style, characterized by meticulous detail and a sense of quiet dignity. The artwork is held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Context
Henri Fantin-Latour, a French painter and lithographer, established his reputation through his exquisite still lifes of flowers and his insightful group portraits of Parisian cultural figures. Madame Lerolle aligns with his established practice of portraying individuals with a sense of introspection and formal elegance. His ability to combine detailed realism with a subtle, almost poetic quality distinguished his work during a period of significant artistic evolution in France.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation:; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
Madame Lerolle
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