Patrick Bade
La Belle Juive
Summary
An exploration of “la belle juive,” a motif in art that refers to the portrayal of Jewish women as beautiful, exotic, and sensual, popularized in the 19th century and derived from a stereotype about Jewish woman as mysterious, alluring, and also deceitful and manipulative.
Patrick Bade
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.
I think it did actually, but I think it’s a particularly, I mean the Wertheimers, of course, were not North African. They were Ashkenazi. So yes, I think the answer to that is yes it did.
Well, people asked that about La Païva, with her handsome young lover. I don’t know, maybe it’s just reputation.