Sargent Madame X Crescent Drop Earrings

Art jewelry makes a unique gift for her.

The crescent moon headpiece atop Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau's iconic profile informs these showstopping earrings, available in gold vermeil or sterling silver, and embellished with white sapphires. Gautreau, perhaps better known today as "Madame X," was admired in Paris for her artful appearance, and John Singer Sargent (American, 1856–1925) hoped to enhance his reputation by painting the stylish socialite's portrait in 1883–84. He emphasized his subject's daring fashion sense by showing the right strap of her gown slipping from her shoulder; however, upon the picture's exhibition at the Salon of 1884, it received more ridicule than praise. Sargent repainted the strap and kept the work for over 30 years. When he eventually sold it to The Met, he commented, "I suppose it is the best thing I have done," but asked the Museum to disguise the sitter's name.  

We're delighted to present this item in celebration of Sargent and Paris. This Met exhibition explores the early career of the American painter John Singer Sargent, from his arrival in Paris in 1874 through the mid-1880s, when his infamous portrait Madame X was a scandalous success at the Paris Salon. Over the course of one extraordinary decade, Sargent achieved recognition by creating boldly ambitious portraits and figure paintings that pushed the boundaries of conventionality. Beyond the portrait studio, he traveled in search of inspiration for his art—finding subjects in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and North Africa. This exhibition gathers Sargent's diverse works from this period to illuminate his path to becoming an artist, which was indelibly shaped by his experiences in the French capital. These visually stunning works provide a compelling view of the Paris art world of the late 19th century.

Read our blog post here to learn more about the items presented in celebration of Sargent and Paris.