I Am Madame X

by Gioia Diliberto

When John Singer Sargent unveiled Madame X -- his famous portrait of American beauty Virginie Gautreau -- at the 1884 Paris Salon, its subject's bold pose and provocative dress shocked the public and the critics, smashing Sargent's dreams of a Paris career. In this remarkable novel, Gioia Diliberto tells Virginie's story, drawing on the sketchy historical facts to re-create Virginie's tempestuous personality and the captivating milieu of nineteenth-century Paris. Born in New Orleans and raised on a lush plantation, Virginie fled to France during the Civil War, where she was absorbed into the fascinating and wealthy world of grand ballrooms, dressmakers' salons, and artists' ateliers. Even before Sargent painted her portrait, Virginie's reputation for promiscuity and showy self-display made her the subject of vicious Paris gossip.
Immersing the reader in Belle Epoque Paris, I Am Madame X is a compulsively readable and richly imagined novel illuminating the struggle between Virginie and Sargent over the outcome of a painting that changed their lives and affected the course of art history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Art, Fiction, France, Historical, Art History, 19th Century

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 18, 2003

About the author

Gioia Diliberto is the author of eight books -- three historical novels and five nonfiction narratives -- and a play. Her writing, which focuses on women's lives, has been praised for combining rich storytelling and literary grace with deep research to bring alive worlds as varied as Jazz Age Paris, nineteenth century Chicago, Belle Epoque Paris, disco era Manhattan, and Prohibition New York. Her books have been translated into several languages, and her articles have appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian, Town & Country, and Vanity Fair. She also teaches writing and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern Universities and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Gioia is the mother of a grown son and lives in Woodbury, Connecticut with her husband.

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fictional treatment of Virginie Amelie Avegno Gautreau, the “Madame X” of John Singer Sargent’s famous portrait. It was published in 2003, just one year too soon to benefit from Strapless, the first book length biography of Madame Gautreau.

The story begins on the family's plantation in Louisiana. Gioia Diliberto created a thrilling escape scene (the Union Army threatens their estate) worthy of Hollywood movie. In reality, their flight was probably quite dull. In Paris these refugees did not settle into flea-bag apartment; they went to a property they owned, but Diliberto’s imagination is much more fun.

Where Diliberto may be spot on is in grafting a personality on to the portrait. Written in the first person, Gautreau shows herself to be adventuresome and daring particularly when it comes to making herself the center of attention. She is obsessed with her looks and who notices them. Her social climbing mother tries to get invites to parties with royalty (and former royalty – this is belle epoch Paris) and marry her daughter “up”. Diliberto shows how these were perfect conditions for someone to agree to this project, which was daring for its day (think: Janet Jackson, wardrobe malfunction).

The author’s ideas in creating Gautreau’s life are excellent, but the text seems too detached to be the voice of her subject. For instance, descriptions of Gautreau’s mother’s reception and the brief text of the Salon unveiling are well thought out events as are how Gautreau’s marriage was sprung on her and how the “folk” expressed pride in their mistress’s picture. These are excellent vignettes for conveying what may have happened but the narrator does not sound like the person who lived it. Similarly the situations depicting her conflicts with the mother, how her teenage heart was broken, the realities of a “marriage blanc” an affair with a politician, the boredom of sitting for a portrait and the issues that arise when someone takes control of your image is are excellent creations. They are told like a reporter and not like a survivor.

Purists will not like this book because it strays from the facts. I appreciated the creativity of the author and believe authors of historical fiction should have this sort of poetic license as long as they separate fact from fiction in the preface or the notes as Diliberto has done.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although an entertaining read, this book's prose is average and there is no major lessons to be learned.

In this historical fiction account, Virginie Gautreau is a 19th century equivalent of today's version of model/actress socialite who is thrown by her social climbing mother into French society.

The few things I got out of this book are 1) Children need a stable environment to grow up properly 2) Exposing children to success at young age without having to work for it causes them to have a sense of entitlement and disaster stikes when you are on top at such a young age. 3)Any ones first sexual experience needs to be with someone they love in a LTR so they will understand and associate sex with love. 4)I do not consider marriage outside of love to be a marriage out all, I think marriage as an institution should institutionalize two people in love. I think the institution of marriage is cheapened if it is done for other causes such as saving face, solely resulting form an unwanted pregnancy, political/social alliance. In these cases, I definitley see a need for external dalliances like what happened in the past. But, I think it is very hypocritical to get married and say those vows and have external relations outside marriage.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this story about Virginia Gautreau's life and John Singer Sargent's scandalous portrait, I had to go to NYC to see it in person at the MET. It is stunning and if you look on an angle from the left side, you can see where Sargent painted over the other strap, but you can only see it by the light. I love all of Sargent's work, he was extremely talented. I did like the story of Virginia's life, born in New Orleans, raised by a prominent Creole family, later fled to Paris because of the Civil War. Virginia was quite promiscuous and a very bold woman living during the Belle Époque Paris.

[Tanya Daigle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential and fell short. I enjoyed the author's choice of genre but I don't think she took advantage of the available material surrounding the heroine's life and family. It was disappointing that Virginie, the woman whom the book is about, was portrayed as a woman who had the advantage of her famous beauty but never used it in a powerful way. Also, the book could have been alot more interesting if the author had delved more into the other characters dramatic lives.

[Briansmom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't that good. This was the author's first novel; I think that she should stick to biographies. Her storytelling lacked something. I never felt that she ever got into the subject's (Virginie Gatreau) head: it seemed that each chapter was one long recitative of what happened (just the facts, ma'am) without any interjections of feeling or much insight, like: "I went here. Then I went there. People weren't nice to me. I was really sad." etc. etc. The characters themselves are fairly flat and unlikeable. Do I know Madame X? Not really, but I don't want to, either. In the hands of this author, she is shallow, self-absorbed and boring.

[Bookish Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely peek into the life of Virginie Gatreau, immortalized by Sargent’s painting, “Madame X”. Written in an almost conversational, memoir style, one almost forgets that it’s fiction. Mme Gatreau was very real personage, a Parisienne socialite, about whom there were many rumors.

Some nice commentary on Sargent’s career here, as well, and a like-able (if not somewhat incorrigible) protagonist.

3.75 stars.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was good, the retelling of history was good, but I found the book oddly detached, almost passionless. It was interesting to read of the world that Mimi inhabited, and to learn the history behind the famous painting. Books such as this make me spend hours at my computer googling the paintings mentioned and I had a blast doing that. Seeing the picture of Dr Pozzi, I can see where Mimi was attracted to him!

The other question I had, is regarding Aunt Julie and her friends. Did Aunt Julie join the impressionist movement and is she known? How about the other two women? Did they stick to classical painting or "see the light"?

But Internet reseach is astonishing. It also changes the whole layout of this book!

When doing a search on Julie, I found this link, which essentially says that Parlange Plantation was built in 1754 by Marquis Vincent de Ternant. The house is still owned by descedents of the Tenant family. It says that one the Ternant daughters, Julie, sister of our Marie Virginie fell in love with a man that Mama didn't like. This event finally drove Julie to her own death, as she ran upset from the house on the day of her wedding, throwing herself into the trunk of a tree, which caused massive head trauma and death. (Youch! Death by head bashing!) She supposedly haunts the place still.

Ah for the joys of fiction!

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the cover, of course. And I’m normally intrigued by fictional “behind the painting” books and have been wanting to read this book for years. But this one was full of cliché phrases — “shapely arms and glittering eyes” — and descriptions, so I didn’t finish and am moving on. However, the author’s note at the end about the real Madame X and what little we know about her was fascinating.

[Melia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully captures la Belle Epoque and the Parisian art world. Atmospheric and heady, and although I would have liked a little more introspection especially in regards to her scandalous personality, this does live up to Madame X.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been in love with the portrait of Madame X ever since I came upon its photo on a huge , heavy art book when I was a child. The beauty and line of her body enthused me .I could sense a little daring, danger, delight which made me want to know more about the enigmatic woman.So, when this story landed in my hands I was ready to find out everything! Alas! I still don't know very much as so much of the story was invented and adjusted time-wise. Apparently, very few facts and letters etc remain to do much more than give a bare bones sketch of Madame Gautreau and a tease of the artist John Singer Sargent. Yet, this was a pleasent , entertaining read. The setting runs from New Orleans Civil war times to Paris during the Belle Epoque of Americans living abroad, strangers not truly accepted. The cool, removed narrative furthered the feeling of Madame Gautreau being separate from any belonging. The sense of flaunting tradition for the sake of being special is her signature left behind.That, and thankfully, her stunning portrait.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a total two-face for me! I was in LOVE with it up until the actual painting was unveiled and the story hit a wall and sort of shattered.

That said, I am really impressed the author was able to put this book together from so little historical documentation, and her style made the book immensely readable. I'll definitely pick up her other stuff.

It was interesting to read about the hot and cold inclusion of Americans into Parisian society during Napoleon's time and after. For some reason, it wasn't until I read Desiree that I "got" how recently these events really transpired. This was another one of those books which makes the past seem not so distant.

Definitely recommend!

[KJ Grow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I have this thing where I force myself to finish books I don't really like. While I found the timepiece aspect of this book enjoyable, the protagonist is so vain, shallow, and unlikeable that I actually found myself annoyed with the author for paying homage to this woman with no real depth or purpose or moral compass. John Singer Sargeant makes an entrance as a character only about 75% of the way through the book, and we actually learn very little about him.

[Cissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For every art lover this is a story of the subject for a change! Most stories are written about the artist themselves, but this one is about the subject. Her life; where she grew up, how she became the person she did and how did she eventually decide to sit for the artist. while it’s historical fiction, the author did an amazing job creating a story around facts. If you have read other books about John Singer, Sargent or find it fascinating to learn about the art scene in Paris during the 1870s you will absolutely love this book.If you’ve ever gone to Paris and find it just a fascinating city, you’ll also love this book.

[Susan Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fiction book, told from point of view of Virginie Gautreau, the subject of John Singer Sargent's famous portrait, Madame X. I'd like to go see the original at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Own)

[diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did it take me so long to realize the story was based on a real person?? Anyways, pretty good read!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only for someone interested in this piece of art. There is some background on the art scene of the time, but this may not be the best way to get that information.

[Dee Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madam X by John Singer Sargent hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. It is one of my favorite paintings, and I saw her this past July at his Exhibition.

As intriguing as the portrait, Gioia Diliberto’s novel tells a background story of the painting and the scandal it caused. For art history buffs, this is a delightful read.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was very interesting, and the tone was quite fitting. I enjoyed it.
I kept wondering, though, how much of this was fact, or based-on-fact. I knew not all of it was -- and this was a much better way of going about imparting sketchy-to-no information than Tilar Mazzeo did with The Widow Clicquot.
But then I got to the end and found out that not only is 99% of this book fictionalized, but a surprisingly large amount of it is an outright lie. And lo, I was very angry for quite some time. I still feel disillusioned, although I now can admit that maybe I should have taken a clue from the fact that it was not in the nonfiction section.
Then, too, the story was interesting to me (at least while I was reading it) because I am interested in Virginie Gautreau and I understood this as being a fictonalized biography. But if it didn't have the celebrity factor going for it -- if it were just a regular fiction novel without any noteworthy name attached -- would it have been that interesting? I'm leaning towards no.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging novel that fictionalizes the subject of John Singer Sargent's painting on the cover of the book, "Portrait of Madame X," in real life Virginie Gautreau. Mme. Gautreau was born in Louisiana before the American Civil War, and later moved to Paris with her mother during that war when she was an older child. While she later spent some time back in LA, she lived in Paris throughout her life. Little is known of her - or, as the author writes, not enough to justify a biography - and so author Gioia Diliberto wrote this novel, weaving in various facts (or near facts) that are known, and fictionalizing the balance, I think to good effect. The painting is incredibly striking (the original is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY), and the novel is engaging, in part because of the times. Here is a URL to learn more about the painting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrai...

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot! Although this is a fictionalized account of Virginie Gautreau's life, the author did an amazing amount of research and, in a long author's note, explains exactly what she was able and unable to ascertain. She is very clear about what's factual, what's fiction.

I learned, right after finishing the book, that it was published just a year before a full-length biography. I'm curious and interested enough to have ordered it immediately. (It hasn't arrived yet, but will go to the top of my book pile.)

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better biographical novels about an artist and his/her muse. Well written and well paced, the story drew me in from the outset. I intend to read whatever else the author has written as a result.

[Laura Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! A novel about a painting.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was engrossing.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it more than I expected to. Sometimes these historical/art-related novels can be a bit dumb, but this one was pretty smart and clearly well researched.

[Autumn · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 star

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madame X. Review (spoilers).

I didn't know what to expect from this book since I discovered it navigating thru Amazon's book section, the cover and the title were the ones catching my eye first since I completely adore Sargent’s work and Madame X specifically.

Getting into the novel’s main argument, it tells you the story of Virginie Avegno from early childhood to adulthood and elderly years. The beginning for me, seemed very promising with a very realistic and detailed narrative of Virginie memories of her growing up in a slave plantation, and the normativity she was inherently used to, the family dynamic and the introduction to each of the members of the Avegno clan, until the explosion of the civil war and the economic difficulties this brought to her apparently unbreakable world. We see her struggling with racist dilemmas and sudden self consciousness over her white privilage, we see her world and family fell apart.

Sadly, from the moment she arrived to Paris with her mother, and she starts to grow up the character’s deepness and conflicts started to appear superficial and meaningless to me. She realizes of her beauty and the power its holds when it comes to controlling men, but that seemed everything Virginie cared about during the course of her entire life, men.

I felt there were many spots were the author could have use to narrate vivid and powerful historic moments, such as Virginie’s school best friend, Aurélie (who could have brought to the table the race conflict again, and make her learn something) or her affair with Sam Pozzi and the gender roles she had to play in the parisian high society in order to survive. But during the course of the novel, we see her commit mistake over mistake and learn nothing, all she cared about were her looks and her appeal to men.

I totally understand that a woman in the 1880’s needed to care about her appearance and marriage as nowadays we care about jobs and studying, but Virginie was constantly being praised for being an intelligent young woman and a very good pianist, she even pointed how music made her get through the worst moments, but again, all of this points where we could have got a better and different angle of Mademoiselle Avegno were nothing but vain characteristic that made a 0% contribution to her personal growth.

I even started to find her funny and entertaining at some moments, I decided that if I wanted to enjoy the book I would see her as a 1800’s French Regina George, so once you start to laugh with her instead of her, the book gets pretty amusing.

There is another war in the middle of the book, the Prussian Capturation of Napoleon, and when she fined out, she was in her way to met with Samuel Pozzi again, and all this woman could think about was:

“I was sorry for the Emperor, but I felt worst for myself. All my life, I’ve needed to be in love and have someone in love with me.” I won’t deny that, she kind of represents me.

However, during the course of the plot I questioned if she was a narcissist or not, and I made my mind to think that she was in fact a hedonist, she was always acting and making decisions in order to please no one but herself. She was constantly seeking for pleasure and the source of it. Unlike Pozzi and Sargent, she never acts in order to please her ego, not even when her portrait as THE Madame X was release, she truly believe all of the gossips and bad reviews she got from the painting and she wavered.

I would have love to see her relationship with her mother or her husband in a deeper way, being treated differently that just a means to an end. And also, would have love if this characters had some plot and own struggle than just being there for Virginie, everyone seemed to be written just to be there for whenever she needed them. The end and epilogue felt rushed and abrupt, but at that point of the book, I could’t care less, I was happy it was over.

I appreciate all the historic research the author did, we can truly see her commitment to bring us a veridic story and I thank that for that, I truly learned a lot reading I am Madame X. I give it 3 stars.

[C.B. Wentworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A largely fictionalized account of the woman behind the painting Madame X by John Singer Sargent. The first half of the story was intriguing as it plunges the reader into the American Civil War and one families desperate escape to Paris. Virginie is just a little girl at the time, which makes the account that much more interesting. However, her arrival in Paris and growing up with a mother who strives for nothing more than social status turns an innocent little girl into a vain, very unlikable woman. Most characters in I Am Madame X have very few redeeming qualities. All are out for themselves, concerned about public image, and gaining social/political status. It's hard to root for anyone in the lot as they pretty much deserve what they get (and a few end up with more than they deserve).

Virginie becomes the subject of Sargent's now well-known masterpiece, but at them time it was misunderstood and lead to the artist's ruin in Paris. Virginie also gained attention for all the wrong reasons, but it's hard to feel sorry for her, when her decisions are largely self-serving and it was only a matter of time before karma paid a call. Still, the fickle nature of fads, fashion, and popularity all run their course and Virginie finds herself succumbing to the inevitable - aging and realizing popularity is fleeting and doesn't lead to true happiness.

[MaryAnn Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, the story behind John Singer Sargent's iconic portrait of Madame X, is based on true events. The main characters actually existed but secondary characters, as well as some events and conversations were fictionalized. It is the story of Virginie Guatreau (nee Avegno), the daughter of a Louisana Creole plantation owner whose life is disrupted by the American Civil War. Her father is killed and the plantation is destroyed so her mother takes her to Paris to live. There she becomes immersed in the salon world of artists who single her out for her beauty. She becomes convinced it is her only attribute, trading on it for advantage and social status. Her profound beauty leads to a request by Sargent to paint her portrait, resulting in a painting that scandalizes Parisian society for its daring. Her questionable morals are exposed and she comes to a true crisis of conscience. The book explores her volatile relationship with her mother and the empty marriage of convenience with Pierre Guatreau. It provides fascinating insight into society in the late 1800's both in the US and in Europe, a period of turbulent change and social upheaval.

[⭐️ (inkwitchery) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I AM MADAME X by Gioia Diliberto

This is a story loosely based on the life of Parisienne socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau (aka Mimi) who is the subject in John Singer Sargent’s (in)famous painting “Portrait of Madame X”.

The author’s version of Mimi is beautiful of course, but she’s also terribly vain, stubborn and self-absorbed. Her volatile relationship with her social-climbing mother didn’t help her either. I found it hard to like Mimi though I did understand and sympathize with her.

The author took what little info there is (at the time this was written) about Mimi’s life and just ran with it. I enjoyed the descriptions of Belle Époque Paris, high society and the artist community. The author’s acknowledgments at the end, which explains her thoughts and motives for writing the story, is worth reading as well.

Overall, this book will appeal to you if you’re already familiar with the painting and want some fun (but fictional!) background info on the mysterious Madame X.



Rating: 3/5 ⭐️

#IAmMadameX #GioiaDiliberto

[Janet Self · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I should have given this novel three stars, but I saw that means I liked it, and I didn't. It always bothers me when a novel purports to be "truth" about someone when, in actuality, it's completely made up. Almost nothing is known about Virginie Gautreau, the model for John Singer Sargent's Madame X painting, and Gioia Diliberato seemed to ignore the one thing she found reporting what Gautreau was actually like as a person. A friend of Gautreau's daughter described her as "a cold, stiff narcissist of great vanity and little conversation." But Diliberto ignored that and went with the sense she got from viewing the painting--someone vain but also sexy and high-spirited. I didn't like Gautreau in her novel at all, which made reading it a slog. But I was going to see the Sargent exhibit at the Musee D'Orsay, so I kept at it. The one thing I did like is--assuming it's at all accurate--the novel gave me a sense of the Paris upper crust society in which Sargent operated.