Presentation for Mr. Mike Sloan

Henriette Chabot aux Pivoines

Jacques-Emile Blanche French, 1861-1942 Oil on Canvas Dated 1931 First displayed in his famous work Lawn Tennis, Henriette Chabot has been featured in a variety of Blanche’s most well known works.

Henriette Chabot was not only one of Blanche’s prominently featured models but also became one of Edouard Manet’s favorites.

As well as featuring in his Lawn Tennis, Henriette Chabot appears in his portrait Henriette Chabot aux Pivoines and Henriette Chabot au Piano, a piece that pays homage to music and solidifies her position as one of his favorite models. This favoritism translated to her position as a model to Edouard Manet, a close friend of Blanche.

Lawn Tennis by Jacques Emile Blanche

An attractive, dark haired beauty, Henriette was supposedly introduced to Manet by Blanche himself. Manet’s employment of her as his own model toward the later years of his life attest to her talents as a model, most notably as an amazon in a top hat in his piece “Amazone” created in 1882.

The painting of Henriette Chabot aux Pivoines was purchased by a good friend of Blanche’s, Robert de Montesquiou, who in turn wrote a flattering poem of the piece: La petite demoiselle Anglaise Qui me fait vis-à-vis a diner Toujours me charme et onc ne me lese ; Donc pour elle je veux badiner Elle est assise entre ses pivoines, Arceaux de croquet et verd rideau : On le prend parfois pour des avoines ; Souvent on les tient pour ses jets d’eau !

Elle est du pinceau de Jacques Blanche : Jacques-Emile – n’oubliez point !

Qu-on ne prend jamais pour une planche Mais que de l’art pur est oint.

Translation: The little English miss Who sits opposite me at dinner, Always charms me and, not wanting to hurt her feelings, I’ll attempt to treat her kindly.

She sits amid the peonies, Croquet hoops and green backgrounds, Which sometimes is taken for oats And the hoops for water fountains.

It’s by the painter Jacques Blanche, Jacques-Emile, lest you forget!

Don’t take him for a fool For he is a master of his art.

The Amazone by Edouard Manet