“Disappointment”
Today, we visit the Belle Époque period in France.
“Disappointment” is an oil on panel painting by the American realism artist, Julius LeBlanc Stewart, from 1882. Stewart is most known for his artwork depicting the Belle Époque period in Paris, when prosperity, wealth, and peace allowed the arts to flourish.
In this painting, a woman is sitting on a chair at home. An envelope lies open on the floor. A letter is resting on her knees, visible against the fabric of her dress as it makes its way to the floor. In her left hand, she delicately holds a teacup. She looks off to her right, lost in thought. The woman has obviously just received some very disappointing news.
This is thought to be a portrait of the famous French stage actress, Sarah Bernhardt. Bernhardt was 38 years old at the time and at the height of her fame. She was a muse and model for many artists of her day, including Alfred Stevens, Jules Bastien-Lepage, Georges Clairin, and Alphonse Mucha. Bernhardt became famous during the beginning of the Belle Époque period in the 1870s. She made the transition from stage to early film seamlessly. Sarah Bernhardt was commonly referred to as “the most famous actress the world has ever known”.
Like his contemporary, John Singer Sargent, Stewart was an expatriate who spent his adult life overseas in Paris. Stewart was an active member of the Parisian upper society. This was initially due to his father’s fortune, but Stewart’s personality and charm ensured he remained there. He established his own reputation, achieving money and acclaim through his commissioned portraits. His most well-known paintings depict notable actors, artists, socialites, and his personal friends.
“Disappointment” is currently in a private collection.
For more on Julius LeBlanc Stewart, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
