Bust portrait of Madame Paul Escudier (1861-1950) wearing a black coat with diamond pin and a black hat with white ribbons. (SIRIS)

Sargent emphasizes the sitter's hat, which is central to her overall appearance and style. A decorative mound of wide white ribbons on the top of her hat makes a bold statement against her black dress and a painted backdrop of deep Prussian blue. 

(Resource Library Magazine)

He would do a second protrait of her:

Madame Paul Escudier 1882

From: Etienne Escudier 

etienne. esc udier@wanadoo.fr

Date: Thursday, March 11, 2004

I'm trying to find out how the painter and my family met together. As Paul ESCUDIER was a politician well known for his numerous contributions for arts and artists I believe he knew SARGENT before SARGENT knew him.

Madame Paul ESCUDIER is my great -grandmother. JS SARGENT seems to have painted two different portraits. I've found only one which is located in WILLIAMSTOWN.  Will you provide me any information on this two (or more) portraits of my family.

 Best regards.

 Etienne ESCUDIER

 FRANCE.

From: The Resource Libray Magazine

Notes:

Special thanks to Craig Chaddock, a friend of the JSS Gallery, for first locating this image on the net and then Dan Smith  for sending me this better image of this painting from one of his trips. To see more of Dan's images from his quest for art, visit his website here ArtQuest USA.

Bibliography:    

Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, collection checklist, 1972.

Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray, "John Singer Sargent: complete paintings; volume 1, The early portraits," New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998, no. 54.

Conrads, Margaret C., "American Paintings and Sculpture at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute," New York, NY: Hudson Hills Press, 1990, pg. 185.

Illustration:    

Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray, "John Singer Sargent: complete paintings; volume 1, The early portraits," New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998, pg. 64.

Conrads, Margaret C., "American Paintings and Sculpture at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute," New York, NY: Hudson Hills Press, 1990, pg. 186.

Catalogue

JSS    10129

SIRIS IAP 23480021

CMM    829 - Mme. Paul Escudier, inscribed: A Mme. Escudier John S. Sargent. 23 ½ x 28 3/4, Estate of Charles Deering.