Monday, July 7, 2008

Portrait Gallery: Paging Dr. Love

John Singer Sargent painted some of the most scandalous portraits of the nineteenth century. My favorite among them is that of Dr. Samuel-Jean de Pozzi, Paris's leading physician for women during the Belle Époque, roué, and possessor of two of the most sensual hands ever painted:

He was the only doctor Sarah Bernhardt allowed near her person (in one of several ways, apparently), and he doubtless looked fetching in his preferred working outfit of white overalls and black cap - although it's hard to imagine he looked any better than he did here, in red robe and enormous ... self-regard.

1 comment:

  1. And he looks 10 times more divine in red slippers than The Pope could ever dream of.

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