Renata Borgatti (1894-1964) was a daughter of a famous Wagnerian tenor. She herself became a great concert pianist at a time when the field was overwhelmingly dominated by men.
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In 1920 she was painted by the expatriate American
Romaine Brooks (1874 - 1970). Brooks was made Croix de la Legion d'Honneur following the Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts that year.
I'm not exactly sure how this Charcoal sketch came about but Sargent, an officer of the Legion d'Honneur and a great admirer of music, seems to be following after Brooks' portrait -- at least in part -- trying to capture that strong profile -- which in itself was tribute to Whistler's work:
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At The Piano 1858-1859 |
