French socialite Madame Juliette Récamier was a renowned beauty in turn-of-the-19th-century Paris. Her salon drew many admirers, intellectuals, and artists. Woman wanted to know the secret of her flawless complexion, and many artists painted, sculpted, and drew her likeness.
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“She was a compound of ingenuous gracefulness, talent and goodness, harmonized by that delicacy which alone forms the charm of loveliness. I have often discovered a resemblance between her and the Madonnas of the pious Italian painters; but this resemblance was purely intellectual. It proceeded not from regularity of features, but from that soul which animated her eyes and beamed forth from under her long eye-lashes, and from the high and intellectual forehead, blushing under its fillet of leno, the only head-dress with which, for many years, she set off the charms of her countenance. In the smile which so often separates her lips of rose, you might perceive the innocent joy of a young and ravishing creature, happy to please and be loved – who saw nothing but bliss in nature, and answered the salutation of love which met her on all sides, by an expression of silent benevolence.”[10]
Madame Récamier’s influence outlived her, not only in the many artworks depicting her, but also the beauty product formulations she purportedly used, and in the women who mimicked her casual poses for their own portraits. Read about Madame Juliette Récamier at Geri Walton’s blog. -via Strange Company
(Image credit: François Gérard)
Source: neatorama