Alfred Stevens: At 65 Rue des Martyrs

"Ready for the Fancy Dress Ball" by Alfred Stevens

"Alfred Stevens acquired a large house and garden at 65, Rue des Martyrs, which impressed every visitor. The garden was the setting for Manet's 'Croquet Party,' while the drawing room became the setting for some of Stevens' best-known paintings. 'Ready for the Fancy Dress Ball,' set in the Chinese boudoir, was commissioned by William Vanderbilt senior in 1879. 

The room and its contents are well documented visually, but were also written about by many, including Robert de Montesquiou, who owned several pictures by the artist. One particular first-hand account by Max Sulzberger described the room that as decorated with furnishings “from the Imperial Palace,” brought back by an officer on expedition to China, and also described the painted gold paper walls and the doors and furniture of the most beautiful black Chinese lacquer. Through the open door at right was the artist’s Salon, which Stevens painted the same year as the present work in his complimentary masterpiece, 'Le Salon du Peintre.'

The following year William Vanderbilt's son, W.K., visited Stevens. Having looked at several works, only to be told they were sold or belonged to the dealer Petit, he asked Stevens about the 'Salon du Peintre' and the reply was, 'That belongs to me.' "How much?' W.K. inquired. '50,000 francs.' 'Then,' W.K. asserted, 'it is no longer yours, Mr. Stevens. It is mine!'

The artist's audacity in asking such a huge price was typical of the self-confidence of Stevens. Although 'Les Visiteuses' had already been sold for 60,000 francs just the year before to King Leopold. Indeed 1878 had been another triumph for Stevens with fifteen exhibits, a first class medal, and promotion to Commander of the Legion of Honour.

Then life took a detour."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Alfred Stevens" by Peter Mitchell and from a catalogue note from a Sotheby's auction of "Ready for the Fancy Dress Ball." )