Object of the Day: "Gypsy Woman with Parrot" by Alexandre Marie Guillemin, 1841

I’ve used this image at “Stalking the Belle Époque” several times, and, have even added it as a design on the shop. It’s a favorite of mine, and, certainly one of the most exquisitely painted pieces in my collection. In fact, it’s become emblematic of our mission here at “Stalking the Belle Époque,” to pause to appreciate the beauty around us.


A pastoral scene of a gypsy woman and a girl, this painting is alive with color—from the sparkle of her jewelry to the parrot’s bright plumage to the basket of peaches which rests at her rose-slippered feet. The central figure looks lovingly at a parrot while the girl playfully reaches for its tail feathers. This painting is signed by Alexandre Marie Guillemin.

Guillemin (1817-1880) was known for his tender scenes of peasant life which he rendered in bold colors. His genre painting garnered him quick attention and, soon, he studied under the Baron Gros in Paris. He exhibited at the Paris Salon starting in 1840 where he won medals in 1841 and 1845. In 1861, he was awarded the Legion d’honneur. His son, the sculptor, Emile Guillemin became a celebrated in his own right. A sculpture by Emile rests on a pedestal to the left of where this painting hangs in my home.

Guillemin’s work represents the sensibilities of the French mid-Nineteenth-Century painters. His use of rich colors and his masterful handling of chiaroscuro sum up the ideals of the day. And, so, this painting remains ideal—a brilliant caution to live a simple, gentle life.