Mon, Jan 22, 2024
Henriette Theodora Markovitch, known as Dora Maar, was born in November 22, 1907, her mother french, her father Croatian, she spent her childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her family was well-off, thus she was able to attend the finest of education. She fell in love with the art of photography, which became more than a gift but a calling.
Sun, Jan 28, 2024
Henriette Theodora Markovitch, known as Dora Maar, was born in November 22, 1907, her mother french, her father Croatian, she spent her childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her family was well-off, thus she was able to attend the finest of education. She fell in love with the art of photography, which became more than a gift but a calling.
Thu, Feb 8, 2024
Born Jeanne Louise Beaudon on June 9, 1868, her mother Leontine Clarisse Beaudon, aka La Belle Elise, was a prostitute, her father Luigi de Font, an Italian aristocrat. Her parents were separated by the time she was 2 years old. She was raised primarily by her grandparents, until her mother took her back with the intention of having her follow in the footsteps of her mother's career. She would eventually run away from her mother, ending up in hospital with Sydenham's chorea, an autoimmune a disorder characterized by rapid, uncoordinated jerking movements primarily affecting the face, hands and feet. She discovered that she could incorporate these movements into dance, which saved her life as she had contemplated suicide. She met her lover, writer René Boylesve, who encouraged her to take the stage name, Jane Avril. While performing at Moulin Rouge of which she helped popularize the can-can, she was discovered by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who painted a promotional material of Jane dancing.
Tue, Mar 12, 2024
The Queen of Montparnasse or rather, Kiki de Montparnasse or simply Kiki, given to her from a lover's pet name, Alice Ernestine Prin, born October 2, 1901, died April 29, 1953, was a model, a chanteus or bar/lounge singer, an actress, a painter, a memoirist, and most notably a liberated woman who lived her life on her own terms. Alice's birth was shrouded in shame, born illegimately, she spent much of her childhood in poverty with her grandmother,who she dearly loved. At age 12, her mother sent for her to live with her in Paris, in order to work and provide more income for herself and her then live-in male partner. Alice began working as a linotypist, as well as other degrading, harsh jobs. Although her love of self-decorating and art, often ended her various employments. At just 14, she posed nude for the first time, of which when her mother found her, she was called a prostitute and kicked out. Destitute and homeless, Alice would find a way to earn a living solely through nude modeling. Although a favorite of many famous artists, her strongest connection was with her most intimate relationship with the visual artist, Man Ray, who photographed, filmed, and created art with her through numerous works available today. Her loving family of friends followed her coffin to her final resting place at Cimetière parisien de Thiais, where her tombstone simply read: "Kiki, 1901-1953, singer, actress, painter, Queen of Montparnasse".Having a lifelong struggle with alcohol and drug dependency, Kiki left this earth at the age of 51 on either March 23 or April 29, 1953.
Tue, Mar 12, 2024
Allow me to introduce to you, the darling 'daughter' of the impressionists, Julie Manet, born November 14th, 1868, to parents Eugene Manet, the younger brother of the acclaimed Edouard Manet, and to mother, Berthe Morisot. Both her parents were deceased by the time of her 16th birthday, first with her father, a few years later her mother. At her father's passing, she was taken under the tutelage of poet Stephane Mallarme, who when her mother passed, became her legal guardian. She was the favorite model of many impressionist artists, especially her doting mother, who portrayed much of her growing up, her Uncle Edouard Manet, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Her diary, Growing Up With The Impressionists, published in 1979, recounts her childhood life with her mother, then life afterwards as an orphan, living in a Parisian apartment with her cousins, traveling with Renoir, Degas, and others, sharing their lives together, their thoughts on current events at the time such as the Dreyfus Affair. Her diary continued with the preparations for her marriage to Ernest Rouart, painter and engraver, which was held in Passy, and was a double ceremony with her cousin, Jeannine Gobillard who married Paul Valery. Julie and Ernest would have a happy life together and together would have three children, Julien, Clement, and Denis, who inherited the works of Berthe Morisot.
Fri, Mar 8, 2024
Agnes Sorel was born in 1422 in Fromenteau, France. She was the daughter of a minor nobleman, but Agnes was destined for greatness. At the young age of 22, she found her way into the court of King Charles VII, becoming the first "official mistress" -Madame De Pompadour has her to thank- She came to the royal court as she was an attendant to King Charles sister, the queen of Sicily, Isabel of Lorraine. It is said that Agnes studied the ways of the court in order to know the best way to behave and incorporate herself amongst the nobles and royalty. Her beauty captivated the King who threatened to leave his pregnant wife for Agnes. This role of first "official mistress" or "favourite" scandalized the country, as this had never been heard of or spoken of openly. He gave her wealth, castles, land, secured her a position meant for a queen, in turn she was able to give him wise council, helped persuade dignitaries to fund the war efforts, as well as four children. The freedom given to her by the king allowed Agnes to make bold choices with her style, from form-fitting busty dresses, and lots of diamond jewelry, which the King had previously had outlawed others to wear, only himself. Agnes defied that rule, causing an uproar and making him love her more. The most famous of Agnes Sorel style is captured in a painting by Jean Fouquet where Agnes is pictured as the virgin Mary showcasing her fashion choice of revealing one breast alongside a low cut form fitting dress. In addition to clothing, Agnes was a foodie, loved fine dining, and loved to cook. Her special taste has inspired many a chef, cook, and food enthusiast. Agnes Sorel's death at the age of 28, after the premature birth of her fourth child, was under shadowy circumstances. It was suspected that she was poisoned and in 2004, led by french historian, Philip Charlier, Agnes body was exhumed and studied, finding high amounts of mercury, commonly a cure for parasites which she had experienced, yet this was an unseemly amount, including in her hair. Thus, it was finally conceded that Agnes Sorel death was murder, most likely, guided by King Charles V11's son, Louis, jealous of her position and worried about his future, however, this is still conjecture. With the advancement of modern technology, Charlier and his team were able to reconstruct Agnes' face with the use of her skull, gaze upon her likeness.
Thu, May 9, 2024
On June 8th, 1891, Audrey Marie Munson was born, a woman that would become famous as 'America's first supermodel" yet unknown, however, she is quite visible still in the streets of New York City, if you know where to look. In her prime, she worked as a film and theatre actress, an 'art' model, and was known colloquially as Miss Manhattan, Panama-Pacific Girl, Exposition Girl, and and American Venus. "What becomes of the artists' models? I am wondering if many of my readers have not stood before a masterpiece of lovely sculpture or a remarkable painting of a young girl, her very abandonment of draperies accentuating rather than diminishing her modesty and purity, and asked themselves the question, "Where is she now, this model who was so beautiful?"
Mon, Jun 24, 2024
Marie Louise Fuller, known as Loie Fuller was born January 15th, 1862 in present day Illinois. She was a childhood actor at age 4, toured with theatre stock companies and Buffalo Bill, performed Shakespeare and gave temperance lectures, did burlesque and vaudeville, before branching out and becoming famous for her own invented dance style, the "Serpentine".
Wed, Jun 26, 2024
Victorine Louise Meurent, nicknamed Le Crevette or The Shrimp for her small stature and bright red hair, was born February 18th or 22nd, 1844, depending on the source, in Paris, France to parents Jean Louis Étienne Meurent, an artisan and Louise Thérèse Lemesre, a milliner or hat-maker. Victorine began modeling at the age of 16 and continued to do so for many an artist throughout her life.
Sat, Jun 29, 2024
I choose to use the term, Life Model, or art model, but you'll often hear it referred to as "artist model". However, for me, when I hear artist model, it connotes the model as possession of the artist, yet I and the models introduced in this series, are not and were not the possession or object, a still life, of the artist. We are forever our own person and artist working together with the artist to bring forth the vision of the creation.