9 Muses Whose Portraits Don’t Match Reality

Throughout history, artists have been captivated by the beauty, charm, and mystery of women. Some of these women became muses, appearing again and again on canvases, their faces immortalized in brushstrokes that told stories of elegance, power, and allure. But beyond the paint and gilded frames, who were these women really?

Isabella II of Spain

Isabella II of Spain was one of the most photographed and painted monarchs of her time. Her striking and instantly recognizable features — bold facial structure, expressive eyes, and a signature braided hairstyle wrapped around her head — caught the attention of 19th-century artists.

Even though her reign was full of scandals, intrigues, and political chaos, her portraits became an unforgettable part of Spain’s visual history. They captured the image of a young queen who ascended the throne as a child and came to symbolize an entire era.

Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel

Nadezhda Zabela-Vrubel performed principal roles in the operas The Maid of Pskov, Sadko, The Tale of Tsar Saltan, and many others. She was especially loved by the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. He literally idolized the singer and admired her marvelous voice. Always judicious and sober-minded, the composer fell in love with Nadezhda, but the union didn’t take place, as both were married.

The artist Mikhail Vrubel became Nadezhda’s husband. He noticed her at the rehearsal of the production of Hansel and Gretel. During the break, Vrubel approached Zabela, kissed her hand, and began to say compliments about her voice and immense talent. They married in 1896, and Nadezhda became a permanent model for her husband’s paintings. She can be seen, for example, in the painting The Swan Princess.

Misia Sert

Misia Sert, born Maria Zofia Olga Zenajda Godebska, was born in the Russian Empire. She was soon sent to Paris, where she learned to play the piano. Sert was a real socialite, she had her own salon, which was visited by the most famous artists. She inspired writers and composers, posed for artists, and was a generous patron of the arts.

Among her friends were Colette and Pablo Picasso. Misia was painted by Renoir (painting on the right above), Toulouse-Lautrec and many others. The composer Maurice Ravel dedicated the pieces The Swan and The Waltz to her. The newspapers called Sert the Queen of Paris, and the writer Paul Moran described her as a “collector of geniuses, all of them in love with her.”

Camille Doncieux

Camille Doncieux was the first wife of Claude Monet. Her image can be seen on several of the artist’s canvases. The most famous of these paintings is The Woman in the Green Dress (the right image above), painted in 1866. Sometimes Camille and Claude had to use different tricks to get the right composition. For example, all 3 women in the work Women in the Garden were 19-year-old Doncieux.

The couple had 2 sons, Jean and Michel. The birth of the second child undermined the already poor health of Camille. Shortly after giving birth, she died. Monet suffered the loss of his beloved and even painted her posthumous portrait, Camille on Her Deathbed.

Victorine Meurent

Victorine Meurent was a musician and tried her hand at artistry. She performed, playing guitar and violin. In addition to that, she taught how to play these 2 instruments and sang in cabarets. She was nicknamed La Crevette (the shrimp) because of her petite stature and red hair.

Although Meurent was an accomplished artist, she is remembered by the general public as one of Édouard Manet’s favorite models. In 1863, he painted 2 paintings — Luncheon on the Grass and Olympia (left photo above). At various times, Meurent also posed for Manet’s close friends Edgar Degas and Belgian painter Alfred Stevens.

Jeanne Hébuterne

Jeanne Hébuterne was the wife and art model of Amedeo Modigliani. She planned to follow in her brother’s footsteps and become an artist. In 1917, she enrolled in the Académie Colarossi, where she met the charming and charismatic Amedeo. And this was only the beginning of their romantic relationship.

Jeanne did everything possible to be near her lover. Neither parents nor poverty, nor illness, nor bad habits of the artist could make her give up on him. Those around her spoke of her as a quiet, shy girl. Her dark red hair and pale skin became a source of inspiration for Modigliani throughout his work.

Ekaterina Ratchkovskaya

Ekaterina Rachkovskaya was a prominent public figure, served on the boards of trustees of an orphanage and a women’s gymnasium, and was active in charity work. Her husband was Peter Rachkovsky, a doctor. The couple had 2 children: a son Ivan and a daughter Valentina.

Rachkovskaya posed for the artist Vasily Surikov. He used her image for several of his paintings. Ekaterina can be seen not only in the portrait Siberian Beauty, but also among the people on the canvases Boyarina Morozova and Taking a Snow Town.

Virginie Gautreau

Virginie Gautreau was a star of the Belle Epoque. She stood out among others for using lavender powder to improve her complexion and body color. Her beauty captivated the artists of the 19th century. Virginie posed for Gustave Courtois and Antonio de la Gandara. But her most recognizable portrait is Portrait of Madame X (the right picture above) by John Sargent.

When this painting was exhibited at the Paris Salon, the public was shocked and offended. Even though the original version with the lowered strapline was corrected, the portrait was still too revealing. After such a reception, Gautreau had to leave high society for a while, and Sargent left the country. However, this didn’t prevent him from becoming famous in Britain and America.

Jane Avril

After being hired by the famous Moulin Rouge in 1889, she quickly rose to stardom. Within a few years, she was the main attraction at the prestigious Jardin de Paris, one of the top cafés-concerts along the Champs-Élysées. Her fame skyrocketed when Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec immortalized her in a striking poster, capturing the intensity and grace of her every movement.

Here you can see what iconic masterpieces would look like today.