About this item
Catherine Hewitt's richly told biography of Suzanne Valadon, the illegitimate daughter of a provincial linen maid who became famous as a model for the Impressionists and later as a painter in her own right.In the 1880s, Suzanne Valadon was considered the Impressionists' most beautiful model. But behind her captivating faade lay a closely-guarded secret. Suzanne was born into poverty in rural France, before her mother fled the provinces, taking her to Montmartre. There, as a teenager Suzanne began posing for -- and having affairs with -- some of the age's most renowned painters. Then Renoir caught her indulging in a passion she had been trying to conceal: the model was herself a talented artist. Some found her vibrant still lifes and frank portraits as shocking as her bohemian lifestyle.
About the Author
Catherine Hewitt's academic career began with a passion for 19th-century French art, literature and social history. Her doctoral research uncovered the remarkable story of a forgotten 19th-century courtesan, and after being awarded her PhD, she set out on her career in biography. Catherine's first book, The Mistress of Paris, was awarded the runner-up's prize in the 2012 Biographers' Club Tony Lothian competition for the best proposal by an uncommissioned, first-time biographer. Based on meticulous research, Catherine's writing seeks to lift history out of the dusty annals of academia and bring its characters and events to life for the 21st-century reader. Her writing introduces real people, telling their stories in intimate detail and enabling readers to share their successes and frustrations. As well as writing, Catherine lectures and runs workshops on 19th-century French art, literature and social history, always seeking to share her enthusiasm for French history and culture. She also works as a translator, and past projects have included translating a permanent exhibition of the work of the radical French female painter Suzanne Valadon for a gallery near Limoges in France.
Catherine lives in a village in Surrey, UK. When she is not writing, she can be found helping restore her family's house in the middle of rural France, cooking, reading and enjoying country walks with her little black cockerpoo, Alfie.
'incredibly readable [ ... ] Hewitt has a great deal of knowledge on the time period of 19th-century Paris' - History Revealed, UK
'an enthralling story, told with both conviction and sympathy.' - The Observer, UK
'Hewitt is a diligent researcher and her handsomely illustrated debut biography is crammed with period detail' - The Daily Telegraph, UK
'a fantastically readable biography...' - Telegraph Bookshop, UK
'first-time writer Catherine Hewitt who, based both on the book and her own self-assured presence at the event, is almost certain to become a familiar name.' - Oxford Literary Festival 2016 blog, UK
'Hewitt's fascinating biography reads like a novel' - Booklist, US
