Dandy Portrait

A while back, I had gone to the Frick Collection to visit the comte de Montesquiou (or, really, his portrait as rendered by Whistler), but, alas, it was unfortunately not on view at the time.  Of course you may recognize the name in association with Proust, whose character Charlus was supposedly or most likely based on him.  Montesquiou is a character himself, and the embodiment of a dandy if you find yourself looking at the portrait of his in the Musee d'Orsay.

When I found that the portrait was back, and in addition could see some of the visiting Renoirs, especially the three Dances placed side by side was perfect, I went at my earliest convenience (despite most times except this busy week being rather inconvenient).  Digressions aside, what one gets from the Montesquiou piece is something altogether different- an ever so mysterious Montesquiou who recedes into the darkness, who cannot be understood in any one view (this because of the lighting against the black of the painting), a ghost who haunts the halls of this brilliant mansion- in a milieu similar to what he would have been accustomed in his life among people with whom he would have known as his familiars. Somehow, it would seem by his look that he is still playing the game, and doing so in top form.

the Comte

next to Miss Rosa Corder, but clearly ignoring her