Portrait of Belle da Costa Greene

by Paul Cesar Helleu

Title

Portrait of Belle da Costa Greene

Artist

Paul Cesar Helleu

Medium

Painting - Print On Paper

Description

Chalk-on-paper portrait of the remarkable Belle da Costa Greene by French society artist Paul Cesar Helleu (1859-1927), dating from c.1913. Born into a wealthy and successful African American family (her father was the first African American to graduate from Harvard), Ms da Costa Greene became librarian to legendary financier J.P. Morgan, continuing in the role after Morgan's death in 1913, under his son Jack Morgan, and was appointed the first director of the Pierpont Morgan Library in 1924. Ms da Costa Greene was described as 'beautiful' and 'sensual' and was known for her outspokenness and her designer wardrobe. ''Just because I am a librarian,' she once said, 'doesn't mean I have to dress like one.'

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September 10th, 2017

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