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Hidden in the Shadow of the Master: The Model-Wives of Cézanne, Monet, and Rodin
A journey of discovery into the lives and contributions of three forgotten women, obscured by the power of their husbands’ fame
Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and Auguste Rodin. The names of these brilliant nineteenth-century artists are known throughout the world. But what is remembered of their wives? What were these unknown women like? What roles did they play in the lives and the art of their famous husbands? In this remarkable book of discovery, art historian Ruth Butler coaxes three shadowy women out of obscurity and introduces them for the first time as individuals. Through unprecedented research, Butler has been able to create portraits of Hortense Fiquet, Camille Doncieux, and Rose Beuret—the models, and later the wives, respectively, of Cézanne, Monet, and Rodin, three of the most famous French artists of their generation. The book tells the stories of three ordinary women who faced issues of a dramatically changing society as well as the challenges of life with a striving genius. Butler illuminates the ways in which these model-wives figured in their husbands’ achievements and provides new analyses of familiar works of art. Filled with captivating detail, the book recovers the lives of Hortense, Camille, and Rose, and recognizes with new insight how their unique relationships enriched the quality of their husbands’ artistic endeavors.
Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and Auguste Rodin. The names of these brilliant nineteenth-century artists are known throughout the world. But what is remembered of their wives? What were these unknown women like? What roles did they play in the lives and the art of their famous husbands? In this remarkable book of discovery, art historian Ruth Butler coaxes three shadowy women out of obscurity and introduces them for the first time as individuals. Through unprecedented research, Butler has been able to create portraits of Hortense Fiquet, Camille Doncieux, and Rose Beuret—the models, and later the wives, respectively, of Cézanne, Monet, and Rodin, three of the most famous French artists of their generation. The book tells the stories of three ordinary women who faced issues of a dramatically changing society as well as the challenges of life with a striving genius. Butler illuminates the ways in which these model-wives figured in their husbands’ achievements and provides new analyses of familiar works of art. Filled with captivating detail, the book recovers the lives of Hortense, Camille, and Rose, and recognizes with new insight how their unique relationships enriched the quality of their husbands’ artistic endeavors.
376 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2008
About the author
Ruth Butler
18 books1 followerRuth Butler was an American art historian and academic who specialized in 19th-century French sculpture and the roles of artists' models and collaborators. She taught at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Massachusetts Boston, and authored works on Auguste Rodin and the lives of women associated with artists of the era.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 2, 2020
It's true what they say about not wanting to meet your heroes because you become disappointed. This was the case with reading the behind the scenes look at Cezanne, Monet, and Rodin. I was not a huge Cezanne fan before this book, but after reading about his treatment of his wife and friends, it will be challenging to separate the man from art. My love for Monet is strong enough that, by the time I finished the book, my brain had discarded the negative facts that I learned from this book. But for Rodin, one of my favorite artists, the details of his treatment of Rose Beuret and his son August Beuret were so pervasive, it is hard to forget. For example, Rodin married Rose three weeks before Rose died. When she asked him why he didn't marry her all those years, "He told me if I was his wife, I would not obey him as well as I do." And that turned out to be the case. She often did not accompany her husband during dinners and social gatherings of higher ranking. Rose was a barely literate peasant and was, quite literally, hidden from these functions--waiting diligently outside for hours at a time until he was done.
This book is not about these men, however. It is an attempt to biographize the lives of the women who put up with these men and why. Most of the records come from records of these artists so you don't hear many first person accounts directly from the source. These women are not without culpability for these conditions and expressed a sort of consent to these lifestyles. Of Rodin's wife, the daughter-in-law said, "Next to Rodin, there was no one else for her, not even her son." Truly, Rose willingly abandoned her son and did not raise him because it interfered with Rodin's peace while creating art.
The books starts off slow and gives disappointingly few details about the main subjects: Hortense, Camille, and Rose. But it becomes clearer as you get into the weeds: there really are fewer details because the lives of these women were seen as less important and their lives were defined by their access and proximity to greatness.
In the end, perhaps this story is a story about how we don't need to be moral to be great and failure in one aspect of our lives does not mean failure on all accounts.
This book is not about these men, however. It is an attempt to biographize the lives of the women who put up with these men and why. Most of the records come from records of these artists so you don't hear many first person accounts directly from the source. These women are not without culpability for these conditions and expressed a sort of consent to these lifestyles. Of Rodin's wife, the daughter-in-law said, "Next to Rodin, there was no one else for her, not even her son." Truly, Rose willingly abandoned her son and did not raise him because it interfered with Rodin's peace while creating art.
The books starts off slow and gives disappointingly few details about the main subjects: Hortense, Camille, and Rose. But it becomes clearer as you get into the weeds: there really are fewer details because the lives of these women were seen as less important and their lives were defined by their access and proximity to greatness.
In the end, perhaps this story is a story about how we don't need to be moral to be great and failure in one aspect of our lives does not mean failure on all accounts.
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February 17, 2026Almost wish i did not know. i am disgusted with these men. And some of the women, too. The many years of terrible health care, especially for women, is a big factor in both their suffering and deaths. For chronic bronchitis and asthma, they give heroin??? are you kidding? How awful. It's hard to reconcile the beauty these artists created with their behavior, although if you look at today's news and read about Gisele Pelicot, it is not so surprising. Attitudes are barely changed. And here in the States, they want to send us back to the 19th Century. Hold on to your hat!
What fascinates me about books like this are the connections between artists and other luminaries of the past, connections that never imagined, and that's why i really wanted to read this book. I do recommend it for that. The ugliness of the artists behavior though, cannot be overlooked.
What fascinates me about books like this are the connections between artists and other luminaries of the past, connections that never imagined, and that's why i really wanted to read this book. I do recommend it for that. The ugliness of the artists behavior though, cannot be overlooked.
March 30, 2020
This book was engrossing, giving a focus to the women of three great artists’ lives who were often ignored or maligned. Ruth Butler is always factual and fair, providing a sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes heartwarming glimpse of these women’s lives without being sentimental. Hortense Fiquet (Cézanne), Camille Doncieux (Monet), and Rose Beuret (Rodin) come alive and are finally allowed to stand on their own.
May 10, 2022
Wow what a bunch of jerks. Hearing from the woman’s point of view is always illuminating. History certainly hasn’t been kind to Hortense Cézanne or Rose Beuret Rodin so it’s good to hear the unvarnished truth, to the extent we can ever know.
I wanted to scream to these men: get a day job! Would it kill you to go home to your partner? Is there anyone left for whom we don’t have to separate the art from the artist? Oh man.
Great art history of the era though!
I wanted to scream to these men: get a day job! Would it kill you to go home to your partner? Is there anyone left for whom we don’t have to separate the art from the artist? Oh man.
Great art history of the era though!
April 3, 2025
As several of the reviews I scanned mentioned, while this book is very interesting it's also a little depressing. Hearing the life story of these women is a good reminder why we should be grateful at how far women's rights have come it also makes me appreciate the greater number of freedoms I have as a woman.
February 17, 2009
Women lost to history are beautifully painted and sculpted by Ruth Butler. She doesn't lag or disapp...more
[close:] Women lost to history are beautifully painted and sculpted by Ruth Butler. She doesn't lag or disappoint. These historically vital women can stand beside their husbands in their own strength and vulnerability. Good job. [close:]
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[close:] Women lost to history are beautifully painted and sculpted by Ruth Butler. She doesn't lag or disappoint. These historically vital women can stand beside their husbands in their own strength and vulnerability. Good job. [close:]
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May 27, 2009
Untold stories of the women behind the men. Makes me want to look again at some of those paintings now that I know more about the women in them.
April 25, 2010
Really disappointing. There is simply not enough information to write a book about these three women. Unilluminating.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews