SakshiThe Biggest Surprise
The already surprised Choppin-Janvry and his team felt floor swept off their feet when they saw something more special. Choppin-Janvry describes the moment “his heart skipped a beat” when a strange object caught his attention. They had to double take to actually believe it.
And They Found It!
Choppin-Janvry was rummaging through some of the objects when he saw a portrait of a woman. The painting featured a sophisticated woman. By the woman’s appearance, it seemed that the woman belonged to aristocrat from Belle Époque era. The woman must be from upper-class French courtesan as the woman was dressed well. The painting had enchanted him so much that he kept on staring it for minutes. With that, a number of questions had popped up in his mind like who was the woman featured in the painting and who made it?
In Search For Answers
Let us tell you a few things about this amazing painting that had captured the heart of the expert. the painting was made by Giovanni Boldini, an eminent Italian artist of the 19th century. From that day to this day, the painting stayed hidden. Had the experts not discovered it, the painting would have still been a secret. Well as far as the woman in the painting is concerned then it is said that the woman was Marthe de Florian, the grandmother of Mrs. De Florian and also a socialite and theater artist. The woman was a renowned personality in the city in the latter half of the 1800s as she was associated with a faction named “Les demimondaines,” the wild girls of the time. The group led a lavish lifestyle. They were renowned for partying all the time and for having flings with lots of people coming from the high class of society.
Digging For The Truth
Very soon the words about the painting and the women in it spread all over the world. The painting of utmost importance had been staying under the garb of secrecy for 70 years and now as it was out it had caused a ripple amongst the historians and art lovers. Experts from every corner of the world headed towards Paris to know more about this painting. In the endeavoring, they resorted to French genealogical records to gather more details about the woman and her family.
Real Identity
The experts found old newspaper clippings and birth records that revealed a great deal about Marthe. Her original name was Mathilde Heloise Beaugiron. The woman was a seamstress by profession. The woman was already parenting two children when she entered the world of acting. So, now the thing that was bothering the experts were why the eminent painter Boldini made her painting? Was there something between the two?
World Leaders And Racy Love Letters
Along with the documents Choppin-Janvry also got his hand on a bundle of letters tied together with colorful ribbons. Well, the real twist came when he opened the letter. The letter had handwritings of Boldini and Georges Clemenceau who became the prime minister in future. As if it was not enough the expert stumbled upon something more amazing.