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Learn MoreBeauty in a Boa by Jean-Gabriel Domergue
- A French beauty in a red and blue boa is the subject of this work by Jean-Gabriel Domergue
- The artist is heralded for his elegant portraits of "la belle Parisienne"
- His works are highly sought after for their groundbreaking portrayals of vivacious, confident women
- Get complete item description here
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1889-1962 | French
Beauty in a Boa
Signed "Jean Gabriel Domergue" (lower left)
Oil on canvas
Jean-Gabriel Domergue represents an elegantly seductive woman in this vibrantly hued oil portrait. Depicted with her hair tucked in a fashionable hat against a soft pastel-colored backdrop, his sitter embodies the youth, vitality and sophistication Domergue’s compositions are known for. Domergue's brushstrokes on the eponymous red and blue feather boa evoke a sense of movement as if a passing breeze caught the. . .
1889-1962 | French
Beauty in a Boa
Signed "Jean Gabriel Domergue" (lower left)
Oil on canvas
Jean-Gabriel Domergue represents an elegantly seductive woman in this vibrantly hued oil portrait. Depicted with her hair tucked in a fashionable hat against a soft pastel-colored backdrop, his sitter embodies the youth, vitality and sophistication Domergue’s compositions are known for. Domergue's brushstrokes on the eponymous red and blue feather boa evoke a sense of movement as if a passing breeze caught the model by surprise. The woman is exceedingly poised, with a hand lightly draped across her chest, a heavy-lidded gaze and the slightest hint of a smile on her brightly rouged lips. The slender, modern woman of Beauty in a Boa exudes confidence and self-awareness, culminating in a perfect blend of prowess and elegance unique to Domergue's work that earned him the reputation of “inventor of the pin-up.”
Born in Bordeaux in 1889, Domergue studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts. He was only 17 years old when he exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français for the first time, winning the Prix du Rome in 1911 and a gold medal in 1920. While landscapes dominated his early oeuvre, from the 1920s he changed his focus to what would become his trademark subject, la belle Parisienne. Domergue enjoyed a tremendously successful career. From 1955 until 1962 he was the curator of the Musée Jacquemart-André, organizing exhibitions of the works of van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and Goya, among others. Domergue was appointed a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur and also served as a Fellow of the Academy of Fine Arts.
20th century
Canvas: 21 3/8" high x 25 3/4" wide
Frame: 34 3/8" high x 29 7/8" wide x 2 1/8" deep
Provenance:
Sale, Christie's, New York, 5 February 2008, lot 00124.
Private Collection
Sale, Doyle, New York, 13 December 2022, lot 02128.
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Maker: | Domergue, Jean Gabriel |
Period: | 1919-Present |
Origin: | France |
Type: | Paintings |
Depth: | 2.13 Inches |
Width: | 29.88 Inches |
Height: | 34.38 Inches |
Canvas Width: | 21.375 Inches |
Canvas Height: | 25.75 Inches |

Expert Insights: Jean-Gabriel Domergue
In this vibrantly hued oil portrait, Jean-Gabriel Domergue paints one of his favorite models, French actress, author and future Baroness Nadine de Rothschild. Depicted at the height of her fame and beauty...
read moreAt M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.
Learn More