What you are looking at
A pale woman in a black satin evening gown stands in profile, one hand on a table, against a warm brown background.
Why it is famous
The sitter was Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, a Parisian socialite. At the 1884 Salon the portrait was a scandal, partly because one jeweled strap had slipped off her shoulder; Sargent later repainted it. He sold it to the Met in 1916.
How big is Madame X?
Madame X measures 208.6 × 109.9 cm (82.1 × 43.3 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 5 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is in the American Wing of the Met.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in New York.
Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Frequently asked questions
Who painted Madame X?
John Singer Sargent painted Madame X in 1883 to 1884.
Where is Madame X?
Madame X is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States. (Gallery 771.)
How big is Madame X?
208.6 × 109.9 cm (82.1 × 43.3 in). Its surface is about 5 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is Madame X made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: The Met, "Madame X" (16.53); Wikidata Q2664039; Wikipedia, "Madame X". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.