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Betalo Rubino, a dancer noted for her striking features and unusual dramatic costumes, became an important model for Henri. During 1909 and 1910, he painted a series of portraits of her. In this work, Henri focuses the viewer’s attention on the demure appearance of the model. Each of the works from this group feature the dancer in costume, a yellow satin gown, matching shawl, and gold jewelry. Here, the sweeping brushstrokes visible in the fabric of her garments express tones of yellow and purple and a bold floral pattern liven the monotone palette. She glances away from the viewer, disengaged, in a moment of reflection. The background is further decorated in splashes of yellow and gold which construct the room around her.
Exhibition History"The Independents," 29-31 West 35th Street, New York, New York, April 1-17, 1910.
Texas State Fair, Dallas, Texas, September, 1910.
The Philadelphia Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1910.
"Paintings by American Artists," William MacBeth Galleries, New York, New York, July - August, 1926, no. 29.
"Robert Henri," The Chapellier Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, October 15, November 27, 1976.
ProvenanceThe artist
Charles Williams, England, 1910
Thomas Agnew & Sons London
Henry reinhardt, New York, 1919
Robert Henri 1926
Ferargil Gallery, New York
Private Collection of J.C. Le Clair, New Jersey
Chapellier Galleries, New York
Private Collection, Bston, 1995
Adelson Gallery
Artist
Robert Henri
(American, 1865 - 1929)
Betalo, The Dancer
Date1909-1910
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsSight: 31 1/2 × 25 1/2 in. (80 × 64.8 cm)
Object numberN0006.2024
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of the Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw Charitable Trust.
Label TextRobert Henri is best known for his unconventional urban realist subjects executed in a bold, painterly style. Although Henri was an important portraitist and figure painter who was admired for his straightforward, vital likenesses of unusual sitters, he is best remembered today as the influential, progressive, and charismatic founder of the so-called Ashcan school of urban realism. A champion of “art for life’s sake,” he was noted for his democratic approach to portraiture and chose sitters from diverse racial groups and walks of life.Betalo Rubino, a dancer noted for her striking features and unusual dramatic costumes, became an important model for Henri. During 1909 and 1910, he painted a series of portraits of her. In this work, Henri focuses the viewer’s attention on the demure appearance of the model. Each of the works from this group feature the dancer in costume, a yellow satin gown, matching shawl, and gold jewelry. Here, the sweeping brushstrokes visible in the fabric of her garments express tones of yellow and purple and a bold floral pattern liven the monotone palette. She glances away from the viewer, disengaged, in a moment of reflection. The background is further decorated in splashes of yellow and gold which construct the room around her.
Exhibition History"The Independents," 29-31 West 35th Street, New York, New York, April 1-17, 1910.
Texas State Fair, Dallas, Texas, September, 1910.
The Philadelphia Art Club, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1910.
"Paintings by American Artists," William MacBeth Galleries, New York, New York, July - August, 1926, no. 29.
"Robert Henri," The Chapellier Galleries, Inc., New York, New York, October 15, November 27, 1976.
ProvenanceThe artist
Charles Williams, England, 1910
Thomas Agnew & Sons London
Henry reinhardt, New York, 1919
Robert Henri 1926
Ferargil Gallery, New York
Private Collection of J.C. Le Clair, New Jersey
Chapellier Galleries, New York
Private Collection, Bston, 1995
Adelson Gallery
On View
On viewc. 1885-1887
c. 2002-2014
c. 2002-2014
c. 2002-2014
c. 1854
