Paul César HELLEU
(1859 Vannes – 1927 Paris)
Portrait of Queen Alexandra - c.1900
Drypoint. Signed and numbered in pencil.
Size of sheet: 61.8 x 40.2 cm
Montesquieu7.
Very fine impression with full margins. Several faint fox marks, otherwise in good condition.
Comparison impression: Royal Collection Trust - RCIN 606306.
Paul César Helleu: Portrait of Queen Alexandra
In this refined drypoint, Helleu depicts Queen Alexandra with the elegance and quiet poise that characterized both his portraiture and his sitter’s public image.
Queen Alexandra (1844–1925), consort to King Edward VII and a celebrated figure of Edwardian society, was frequently photographed and painted, but Helleu’s interpretation stands apart for its intimacy and immediacy. Rather than emphasizing regal formality, the artist presents her with a graceful naturalism that aligns her with the elegant women who populate his works.