Portrait of Emilienne Le Roy by Giovanni Boldini

Giovanni Boldini
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 x 37 1/2" wide x 3" deep (120.02 x 95.25 x 7.62 cm)

View the Dossier

This painting was exhibited at The European Fine Art Fair.

Provenance:
Artist’s studio (inventory no. 29T)
Emilia Cardona Boldini (widow of the artist)
Tino Rossi
Private collection, Milan
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

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

Exhibited:
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