Style Imitating Art | “Portrait of Countess de la Maitrie in equestrian dress” by Charles Albert Walhain
About Style Imitating Art
Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Terri of MeadowTree Style, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as curator, selects an inspiration image that they will each post on their blogs. The following Monday, each host shares her art inspired outfit. Participants are invited to submit their art inspired outfits to the curator by 10:00 p.m. EST on the Tuesday following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. The following day, Wednesday, the curator will share all of the submissions on her blog.
You don’t have to be a blogger to join! You are invited to share your images on Instagram or other social media platforms. Just be sure to tag Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee or use #TeamLOTSStyle and #StyleImitatingArt so the hosts know you have joined. Go have some fun in your closets and join the SIA challenge next week!
The Inspiration Artwork
The inspiration artwork was chosen by Salazar. You can read why she picked this work here.
“Portrait of Countess de la Maitrie in equestrian dress” by Charles Albert Walhain
About the Artist: Charles Albert Walhain
Charles Albert Walhain was a French painter and sculptor born in Paris on November 3, 1877. Following his classical studies at the Collège Sainte-Barbe, he began taking lessons with Léon Glaize before entering the Beaux-Arts de Paris. By the turn of the century, Walhain was a prominent portrait painter in high society circles. In 1918, he began work on several war memorial projects and was named Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1929. From 1900 until his death on May 22, 1936, Walhain exhibited his works at the Salon of the Society of French Artists.
He died in Neuilly-sur-Seine at the age of 58 and was posthumously awarded a gold medal by the Salon of the Society of French Artists later that year. Walhain is probably best known for his artwork on the 1927 Cérès et Mercure issue from Banque de France which hurriedly replaced the 1000F Rose et Bleu banknote of 1889 that needed to be removed from circulation due to forgery issues.
About the Art: “Portrait of Countess de la Maitrie in equestrian dress”
Portrait of Countess de la Maitrie in equestrian dress is a 1910 oil on canvas portrait painted at an unknown location. The painting measures 82.7 x 49.4 inches (210 x 125.5 cm) and features an august woman in her riding habit posing with her stately little Dachshund in front of an unidentified body of water.
I have been searching the internet for a week for more information about both the artist and the Countess de la Maitrie, but I cannot find any more than what I have provided here. That kind of bums me out. But I guess life is made up of all sorts of little mysteries that we never get to solve!
Resources/References:
- Wikipedia: Charles-Albert Walhain
- French Banknotes: Charles Albert Walhain
- Artnet: Portrait of Countess de la Maitrie in equestrian dress
About My Outfit Inspired by the Art
I was afraid I was going to really struggle with this challenge until I remember these old thrifted culottes in just the right shade of gray. I paired them with a slightly darker gray blazer to recreate an outfit that is similar to the Countess’s riding habit of a long skirt and blazer. The only waistcoat I own is my fish and bird print one that I wore for Salazar’s last SIA art choice and that simply would not work. Instead, I created the opposite of the Countess’s white turtleneck under a gray buttoned waistcoat combination with a white button down menswear shirt over a gray turtleneck.
I accessorized with brown leather riding boots, a black cloche hat, ivory gloves with buttons that give them a vintage equestrian vibe, a flower brooch in place of a fresh flower boutonnière, and an umbrella instead of a riding crop. I also tied a little black scarf in my hair to imitate the bow in her hair, but you can barely see it in my photos. Oops.
This is a very straightforward interpretation of the painting and I really liked the end result. However, I would likely never wear this outfit in real life because it doesn’t really suit my current lifestyle. But it was still fun to play dress up and dance around in front of the camera!
That is it for this week’s Style Imitating Art look. So how do you think I did with this challenge? I hope you enjoyed it and feel inspired yourself to play dress up!
Be sure to check out Salazar’s interpretation of the painting as well as Terri’s take on it. If you would like to participate in this challenge and have your photo included in Salazar’s round up post on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, be sure to email your photos to her by Tuesday, February 14, 2023, by 10:00 p.m. EST. I am excited to see what you all style!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Blazer and Shirt: Gap / Turtleneck-Target / Culottes-Thrifted / Boots-Franco Sarto / Gloves-Wona Trading / Hat-Kohl’s / Belt-Torrid / Brooch, Earrings, and Hair Scarf-Old / Umbrella-Steve Madden
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
16 Comments
Suzy Turner
You totally nailed this challenge, Shelbee!! I love this outfit, probably because of the androgynous feel to it which I’m really into at the moment (since I cut my hair short again!). But I can understand it’s not really your current ‘vibe’. You are much more of a boho queen, my friend.
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Suzy! I do love a little androgyny myself! In fact, the 4th blog post I ever published was called Androgynous Chic! My hair was super short then, like yours, and I loved it that way for an androgynous style. But yes, these days boho is much more my vibe!
xoxo
Shelbee
Sally in St Paul
Even when something isn’t your obvious go-to style, you still nail it, Countess…I mean, Shelbee 😉 A superb straightforward interpretation…and the inclusion of those gloves slays me. I think she’d envy your culottes as a much for practical choice for riding!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Hahaha, thanks so much, Sally! I needed that little giggle this morning! I agree that culottes are so much more practical that those long riding skirts they wore. I think if I had lived in another era, I might have been a real troublemaker!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Oh, I love this, Shelbee! You notice so many more things than I do! And, I was irritated to not be able to find anything about the art work or the artist! I know how Salazar found the art work, but I’m amazed it would show up in any kind of search! I really do like this painting, but I was stumped, too and not entirely pleased with my look! I got my weeks all mixed up and had to do this last minute!!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Marsha! I set my laptop and phone wallpaper with the current art so I look at it lots and lots of times before I even think about my outfit. I think that’s why I notice all the things! Then I let it marinate until it has just the right flavor. Ha. I was surprised that there isn’t more information about the artist considering he designed a banknote. But I guess illustrations on money maybe is a rather obscure job. Now I wonder who has done the art on U.S. money! Oooh, that might be a idea for a future SIA art pick. Hmmm…
Going to check out your post now!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You did this look so well!!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I appreciate you!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
You are so spot on. So very sweet.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Patrick! I appreciate you!
xoxo
Shelbee
Terri Gardner
You nailed it. It looks like I am the only one without the right shade of grey in the closet. Kudos for getting out in the snow!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Terri! I do own quite a bit of gray clothing which I am only now realizing how much I like it on me now that my hair is so gray. These style challenges are so good for helping me find new styles and colors that I love!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
I think you did an amazing job with this challenge! It looks like you were having lots of fun with your photo shoot too.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Joanne! I generally have lots of fun during photoshoots but it’s only because my husband is awesome and cracks me up the whole time!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Well done! I had NOTHING in my closet to fit this prompt. But you nailed it. 😄
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awww, thanks so much, my friend! I was surprised that I still had these pants and could make this work. I don’t think any of these clothes will make the big cut though…whenever I get around to that!
xoxo
Shelbee