Portrait of Madame X | John Singer Sargent | 1884 Raphael hinting at temptation and the

hinting at temptation and the lurking presence of self-destructive impulses

Thought to have been painted around 1500

while molten lava flows down its sides

and divine intervention

Portrait of Madame X | John Singer Sargent | 1884 Raphael hinting at temptation and theAbout the artwork: John Singer Sargents Portrait of Madame X (1884) is one of the most provocative works of late 19th century portraiture, both for its striking aesthetic and the scandal it caused at the Paris Salon. Depicting Virginie Amlie Avegno Gautreau, a wealthy American expatriate known for her beauty and flamboyance, Sargent presents her in a sleek black gown with daringly thin straps, her pale skin glowing against the dark background. The