Custom term paper on Victorine Louise Meurent (February 18, 1844 – March 17, 1927)

Victorine Louise Meurent is known as a French painter and even a popular and famous painters’ model. Although Meurent was known as the Édouard Manet’s favourite model for paintings, she seemed to be also an artist in her own right; she also exhibited several times (it repeated) at the Paris Salon that was very famous and prestigious. Meurent was born in Paris in the artisans’ family. Meurent seemed to start being a model when she was only sixteen years old, and the first experience of a model she gained in the Thomas Couture’s studio. According to Main, in 1876 her paintings were selected for inclusion at the juried exhibition, when Manet’s work was not. She first worked for Manet in 1862, posing for a painting entitled, The Street Singer (2008, pg 34). Victorine Louise Meurent had really strong character and personality that was depicted and could be noticed in each of her works. When Manet saw Victorine at the street at first time, she was carrying the guitar. Then he first had drawn to her. This gorgeous woman had red hair and petite stature that could not be missed by anyone. She was definitely noticeable. That was illustrated by Manet in his work (watercolour copy) called “Olimpia”. The guitar was not only the one musical instrument on which Victorine played. She also played on the violin, and was giving lessons in these two beautiful musical instruments, including the fact that she was singing in the café – concerts. The name of Victorine is traditionally associated with masterpieces of Manet (for example, “The luncheon on the Grass” and “Olimpia” of course, these pictures depict Victorine’s portraits.

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In the same time, Victorine was a model for Edgar Degas and Alfred Stevens (who is the Belgian painter). However, Edgar Degas as well as Alfred Stevens was Manet’s good friend. It is even known that Stevens and Victorine had close relationships (something closer and better then friendship). Meurent was a model for Manet until 1870s (early). However, then Meurent started taking lessons of art and it led to Manet and Meurent estranging. She painted in the other opposite way Manet did, her style was more classical and academic. According to Main, The last painting by Manet in which Meurent appears is Gare Saint-Lazare, which is often referred to as The Railway, painted in 1873. The painting is considered the best example of Manet’s first use of the modern approach to subject matter (2008, pg 37).
Three years passed. Victorine Meurent presented her own work at first time. It was at the 1876 Salon. Meurent’s work was accepted by people – ironically, at the same year own submissions of Manet were obviously rejected by the jury. Main has stated that Bourgeoise de Nuremberg au XVIe siècle, Meurent’s entry at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1879, was hung in the same room as the entry by Manet. Work by Meurent also was included in the 1885 and 1904 exhibitions. In all, Victorine Meurent exhibited in the Salon six times. Meurent also continued to support herself by modelling through the 1880s for Norbert Goeneutte, an artist best known for his etchings today, and Toulouse-Lautrec, who was taken to introducing her as “Olympia” (2008, pg 43). Victorine Maunet had really strong character and personality that was depicted and could be noticed in each of her works. She also had a great will to be famous and wanted to be artists in the 19th century. She passed difficult path to become famous and well known. Victorine Meurnet was supported by Charles Hermann-Leon and Tony Robert-Fleury (who was the Société des Artistes Français founder), thus in 1903 she was inducted in the Société. In 1906, Victorine Meurent and Marie Dufour lived together in Paris for the remainder of Dufour’s life, and then Victorine left Paris. She did it for Colombes suburb. However, it became obvious that the house was owned by both Meurent and Dufour. They had shared ownership. In the eighties, Meurent did not stop to refer her person as a great artist and as a talented recorder in a census from the contemporary period. In 1927 (March 17) the world lost great artist and model Victorine Louise Meurent. In 1930, Marie Dufour died. After that, the house’s contents were liquidated. Eventually, in the late twentieth century, elderly neighbours seemed to recall the house’s contents (that were last), the last contents of the Meurent and Dufour’s house included the violoin and its case. Both things were burnt on a bonfire. Victorine Meurent’s painting called “Le Jour des Rameaux” or “Palm Sunday” was recovered in the year 2004. Nowadays they hang in the Colombes History Museum.