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CANVASES, CARATS AND CURIOSITIES

Courting The Muse: Four Famous Muses in Art History

The passionate relationship between artists and their muses has fascinated art lovers for decades. Turbulent love affairs and close friendships have resulted in some of the greatest art in the world. Join us as we explore some famous muses that provided powerful inspiration for Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Edouard Manet and Andy Warhol, each of whom were exceptional artists and creatives in their own way.

 

Renoir and his Muses

As a founding member of the French Impressionists, Pierre-Auguste Renoir was instrumental in helping to create a new point-of-view in art. He, above all the other Impressionists, was renowned for his figurative work, and he often relied on the help of models to depict his distinctive, Rubenesque women on canvas. However, the subjects he returned to most frequently were people within his close inner circle. Two muses made an indelible mark on his oeuvre: his wife, Aline Charigot, and her cousin, Gabrielle Renard.

 


La Maternité by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, conceived in 1916

La Maternité by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, conceived in 1916

 

This intimate portrait in bronze captures Renoir’s beloved wife, Aline. They met in 1880 when the young dressmaker began to model for the artist. They would marry ten years later and have three sons together. She appears in several of his most important works, most notably his 1881 The Luncheon of the Boating Party that today resides in The Phillips Collection. Renoir continued to paint intimate and tender depictions of her throughout his career until her death in 1915. In this poignant bronze, Aline is seen breastfeeding their first son, Pierre, in a touching reflection on maternal affection seen through the eyes of a loving husband and father.

 


Après le bain by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, circa 1898

Après le bain by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, circa 1898
 

Another sitter essential to a discussion of Renoir’s muses is Gabrielle Renard, the nanny to Renoir’s children and cousin of Aline. Gabrielle came to Montmartre to work for the family at the age of 16. She developed a strong bond with the family and became a favorite subject for Renoir, appearing in several of his most important works, including his 1911 Gabrielle with a Rose housed in the Musée d'Orsay. She became not only a treasured model and member of the family, but an important support for Renoir as his health deteriorated. The artist suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for most of his life. When it became aggressive in his 60s, leaving him unable to grasp a paintbrush on his own, it was Gabrielle who assisted and encouraged him by positioning the paintbrush between his crippled fingers so that he could continue painting.

 

Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso

Tête de Femme by Pablo Picasso

 

Tête de Femme by Pablo Picasso

 

 

Pablo Picasso featured Dora Maar in many of his most famous portraits, including The Weeping Woman. Maar, a talented photographer, painter and poet, was not only a subject and muse for Picasso, but also once a lover. The pair were introduced in 1935 while Maar was working as a photographer in France, and they quickly became inseparable.

 

Dora Maar

 

Dora Maar
 

While spending time together, Maar captured on film highlights of Picasso’s artistic process, specifically that of his masterpiece Guernica. Additionally, Maar introduced Picasso to cliché verre, a technique combining printmaking and photography. Simultaneously, Picasso painted Maar in his signature cubist style, much to the dismay of Maar herself, who was often depicted in anguish and despair. When asked about these portraits, Maar is quoted as saying that “They’re Picassos. Not one is Dora Maar.”

 

The couple was known for having severe highs and lows throughout their nine-year-long on-again-off-again relationship. During their tenure together, Picasso kept his relationship with Marie-Thérèse Walter, mother of his daughter Maya, much to the dismay and torture of Maar. Each of the tumultuous periods sparked passionate artistic output in both artists. It was not until her separation from Picasso that Maar truly began her painting career, which was heavily influenced by Picasso’s mastery of cubism.

 

You and Me by Dora Maar

You and Me by Dora Maar

 

 

Maar continued to work as an artist throughout her later years until her death in 1997 at age 89. Posthumous exhibitions of Maar’s art have been hosted at the Tate Modern, London (2019-2020), Haus der Kunst, Munich (2001-2002) and the Centre de la Vielle Chartie, Marseille (2002).

 

Berthe Morisot and Edouard Manet

Berthe Morisot by Edouard Manet

Berthe Morisot by Edouard Manet
 
Some of Edouard Manet’s most significant works feature Berthe Morisot as the subject, including Berthe Morisot and a Bouquet of Violets and Berthe Morisot with Fan. Not only was Berthe Morisot the great muse of the infamous Manet, but she was also the first female member of the Impressionist group. As a young, blooming artist, Morisot found support from her mother, who allowed her to study art formally. Berthe learned plein-air painting and studied under Jean-Baptise-Camille Corot within her artistic studies.
 

Berthe Morisot
Berthe Morisot

 
Morisot and Manet’s relationship began in the 1860s. Around the same time, Morisot submitted and showed works at the Paris Salon. It wasn’t until 1867 that she was invited to exhibit her art with the Société Anonyme des Artistes-Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs; this event produced the first output of the Impressionists. She would go on to exhibit at seven of the eight Impressionist shows in the following years.
 

Jeune fille étendue by Berthe Morisot

Jeune fille étendue by Berthe Morisot

 
Correspondence between Morisot and family members leads us to believe that an unrequited love may have been present in her friendship with Manet. Morisot not only looked up to Manet, but also felt fondly for her colleague. However, Manet was already married and nearly a decade her senior. Letters from Manet display a great respect for Morisot as an artist, subject and friend. Morisot eventually married Edouard’s younger brother, Eugine, allowing Edouard and Berthe to remain close in proximity.
 
Morisot passed away in 1895 at the age of 54. In 2013 her painting titled After Lunch sold for $11 million at auction; the work was dubbed “the Impressionist painting par excellence” by her contemporaries. The Musée d’Orsay hosted an exhibition in 2019 dedicated to Morisot’s artistic output.
 

Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol

Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol
It is no surprise that Andy Warhol, the superstar pop artist, found inspiration from the “coolness” of those around him. The hip New York crowd he surrounded himself with were often collaborators and, simultaneously, his muses. One muse in particular stands out — model and actress Edie Sedgwick.
 
Edie Sedgwick was born to a wealthy yet troubled family in Santa Barbara, California. The seventh of eight children, Edie had a difficult relationship with her abusive father and was committed to a private psychiatric hospital in Connecticut as a teen. However, at age 21, Edie left for New York with a trust payout to pursue a modeling and acting career.
 
Warhol and Sedgwick met in March 1965 at a party at Warhol’s Midtown Manhattan art studio called The Factory. The pair very quickly started working together, with Edie’s first performance in Warhol’s 1965 underground film Vinyl and second in the 1965 film Horse. Her performances in both early films were brief. Shortly after, Sedgwick began starring in Warhol’s underground film, particularly Poor Little Rich Girl (1965), which was inspired by Sedgwick’s life.
 
Though Warhol’s films were not successful commercially and were only screened in underground circles, Sedgwick’s performances gained her much attention in the American art scene. Sedgwick was an “it girl” that attended the most exciting parties and premiers. She quickly developed her iconic look of short silvery hair, black leotards, chandelier earrings and dark, heavy eye makeup. Sedgwick became a constant accessory to Warhol’s outings.
 

Shadow by Andy Warhol
Shadow by Andy Warhol
 
After splitting from Warhol and the crew at the Factory, Sedgwick unsuccessfully tried to launch a legitimate acting career. She died at 28 of a drug overdose after years of battling psychological issues and drug addictions.

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