Cecilia Beaux

Michele Rushworth · 10-11-2007, 11:30 PM

I just spent an afternoon at the Tacoma Art Museum's Cecilia Beaux show. It's on until January 6th, for any of you who can make it out this way. The paintings I have attached are all in the exhibit, along with dozens more, many borrowed from the Met and the Smithsonian.

What a talent! I plan to go back at least once and try to absorb more. I would have to say that she showed as much proficiency as Sargent in her portraits. I wish there were more online images that I could share with you.

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 10-12-2007, 04:07 AM

Michele, I was lucky enough to see two of these paintings (the little girl is at the Met and the girl with cat in a show here in London) and agree with you totally.
She is one of the artists who put everything at stake to pursue her career.
Thanks for reminding us to look at her work more often
Ilaria

Alexandra Tyng · 10-12-2007, 09:26 AM

Oh! Michele! I so envy you for seeing the show already! When it comes to PAFA I know I'm going to be haunting the place.

Here are more images. The one of a grown-up Ernesta in white is in the Met, but when we were there it wasn't hanging, but it was in a back room with rows of parallel glass storage cases. Actually it was nice being able to see it up close. It was incredible. I totally agree that she was as much a master as Sargent. Her work has something even more appealing--a personal, emotional intensity and attachment to the people she painted. There is also a deep psychological understanding that goes into the vision and the composition.This is not just true of her relatives, but of everyone she painted. Sargent has this with some, but not so consistently.

Alexandra Tyng · 10-12-2007, 09:41 AM

Here are more images.

Last weeked we were at Parents' Weekend at our son's college, and at the Master's reception I noticed a nice-looking portrait at the other end of the living room. My husband and I made our way over there, and suddenly his eyes lit up and he pointed to the signature. I was so busy looking at ths stunning portrait of a mother and child that it took me a few seconds to realize what he was pointing to. The signature was, as you might have guessed, that of Cecilia Beaux!

Obviously the portrait was not chosen for the exhibition. It makes me wonder how exhaustive the search for her work really was. Sometimes it takes several show before all is discovered. Anyway, this was a beauty and I only wish I had had my camera.

Patricia Joyce · 10-12-2007, 10:58 AM

This exhibit was in Atlanta as well. I was fortunate enough to visit while Marvin Mattelson was in town. While I have always tried to get to his tour of the Met, this was probably just as great an experience. He really helped me to see how she created such depth, atmosphere, exquisite color with phenominal brushwork. With what seems like just a few simple strokes she conveys the complexity of the aged knarled hands of an older woman. It really opened my eyes.

I spent two more days, one where I had the exhibit all to myself for two hours. Here are more images I "found".

Enzie Shahmiri · 10-12-2007, 11:29 AM

I absolutely adore the 1st painting! What a lovely exhibit collection.