The artwork titled “Madame Gautreau Drinking a Toast” was created by John Singer Sargent between 1882 and 1883. This portrait, painted with oil on canvas, belongs to the Realism art movement and measures 31.8 by 40.6 centimeters. The artwork is housed at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, also known as Fenway Court, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
In this portrait, Madame Gautreau is depicted in a side profile, seated and extending her right arm to the left with a glass lifted in a toast. She is adorned in a sleeveless dress with sheer fabric that cascades over her shoulders, exuding an aura of elegance and sophistication. The background is predominantly dark, which starkly contrasts with her pale complexion and the soft hues of the glass and nearby flowers. The use of light and shadow effectively highlights Madame Gautreau’s delicate facial features and graceful posture, encapsulating the distinct realism and finesse characteristic of Sargent’s work. The overall mood of the artwork is both intimate and celebratory, capturing a fleeting yet poignant moment in time.