Portrait of Madame X

Gallery 771 Close to Washington, John Singer Sargent's portrait of Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau caused a scandal at the 1884 Paris Salon. The slipped shoulder strap, the heavy makeup and her cool indifference to the viewer drew ridicule in the press, and Sargent later repainted the strap into the version you see now. Nearly 7 feet tall, it still has real swagger, and it is the quickest way to see how one painting can change a career: the backlash soon pushed Sargent to leave France.