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Learn MorePortrait of Emilienne Le Roy by Giovanni Boldini
- This work is a masterful portrait by Giovanni Boldini, the premier portraitist of the Belle Époque
- It captures the visage and essence of Emilienne Le Roy, a distinguished Parisian socialite
- The composition is executed in Boldini’s signature sweeping brushstrokes and dynamic style
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1842-1931 | Italian
Portrait of Emilienne Le Roy
Oil on canvas
A dazzling display of Giovanni Boldini’s signature style, Portrait of Emilienne Le Roy captures the essence of Belle Époque elegance. Boldini, known as the “Master of the Swish,” infused his portraits with movement, vitality and an unparalleled sense of grandeur. Painted in 1913, this portrait embodies the grace and dynamism that made Boldini the most sought-after portraitist in Parisian. . .
1842-1931 | Italian
Portrait of Emilienne Le Roy
Oil on canvas
A dazzling display of Giovanni Boldini’s signature style, Portrait of Emilienne Le Roy captures the essence of Belle Époque elegance. Boldini, known as the “Master of the Swish,” infused his portraits with movement, vitality and an unparalleled sense of grandeur. Painted in 1913, this portrait embodies the grace and dynamism that made Boldini the most sought-after portraitist in Parisian high society.
Rendered in Boldini’s unmistakable fluid strokes, the portrait pulses with energy, as though caught in a fleeting moment of motion. His characteristic loose, swirling brushwork lends an ethereal quality, while the play of light across the figure enhances Le Roy’s presence. Her elegant pose, draped in flowing fabrics, epitomizes the aristocratic glamour of pre-war Paris. Boldini’s ability to merge realism with impressionistic dynamism is fully realized in this composition, showcasing why his work remains unparalleled in the canon of portraiture.
Boldini was the premier portraitist of the Belle Époque, capturing the era’s most famous figures, from the Marchesa Casati to the Duchess of Marlborough. Emilienne Le Roy (1894–1980) was among the select Parisian socialites who vied for the privilege of sitting for him. His portraits, treasured for their vivacious energy and modern spirit, have been collected by the world’s most prestigious museums, including the Boldini Museum in Ferrara, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Petit Palais in Paris, which recently hosted a major retrospective of his work.
Painted 1913
Canvas: 37 5/8" high x 27 3/4" wide (9557 x 70.49 cm)
Framed: 47 1/4" high 37 1/2" wide x 3" deep (120.02 x 95.25 x 7.62 cm)
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Literature:
C.L. Ragghianti, E. Camesasca, L'Opera completa di Boldini, Rizzoli Editore, Milan, 1970, no. 512, reproduced in black and white, p. 128.
T. Panconi, Giovanni Boldini. The complete work (General catalogue raisonné), Edifir, Florence 2002, p. 551
P. Dini, F. Dini, Giovanni Boldini. 1842-1931. Catalogue raisonné, Allemandi, Turin 2002, vol. IV, p. 546, n. 1058
Giovanni Boldini. General catalogue from the Boldini archives, edited by B. Doria, Rizzoli, Milan 2000, n. 620
Exhibitions:
Boldini: The Genius of Line, the Magic of Color, Campobasso, November 27, 2021 – April 18, 2022
Femme Fatale: The Female Figure in the Belle Époque, Between Archetype and Emancipation, Montichiari, November–December 2022
Provenance:
Artist’s studio (inventory no. 29T)
Emilia Cardona Boldini (widow of the artist)
Tino Rossi
Private collection, Milan
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Maker: | Boldini, Giovanni |
Period: | 1816-1918 |
Origin: | Italy |
Type: | Paintings |
Style: | Modernism |
Depth: | 3.0 in. (7.62 cm) |
Width: | 37.5 in. (95.25 cm) |
Height: | 47.25 in. (120.02 cm) |
Canvas Width: | 27.750 in. (70.49 cm) |
Canvas Height: | 37.625 in. (95.57 cm) |

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