The Barefoot Blogger finds “The Most Elegant Woman in Paris”
Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved movie stars. My make-believe world included screen legends like Greta Garbo, Lauren Bacall, Betty Davis and Grace Kelly. They exuded glamour and style in their work and their real lives. If France had been within the realm of my imagination while growing up, surely Jacqueline Delubac would have been close to the top of my list of idols. She was known in France as “the most elegant woman in Paris.” During her reign in the theatre in the l930’s and beyond, she had it all — actress, Paris socialite, fashion icon.
Jacqueline Delubac
I came to know about Delubac on my recent visit to Lyon. An exhibit dedicated to celebrating her life and her contributions to the art world as a collector is featured at the Musee des Beaux Arts. Much like “lucking” into a retrospective of Princess Diana and her fashions several years ago at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, I was thrilled to get a “fashion fix” during my day at the museum.
To briefly describe Jacqueliine Delubac, she was daughter to a wealthy industrialist and choose Paris and a job in the theatre over an aristocratic life in Lyon. In Paris she met and married Sacha Guitry, a popular French producer and actor twice her age. With Guitry, Jacqueline starred in numerous romantic comedies, such as Bonne Chance and in Faisons un Reve (Let’s Dream Together).
In the theatre and in her high society life in Paris, Delubac was admired for her beauty and elegance — much like those actresses of 1930’s and 1940’s in Hollywood. Her opulent life with Sacha Guitry included the best of everything, especially a world-class collection of couture and art, both of which are part of the Museum exhibit.
Jacqueline Delubac, Fashion Icon
After her divorce from Guitry, Delubac faded from the big screen. Yet her passion for art grew until she became totally devoted to building her holdings of fine paintings, sculptures and Impressionist art. She was known for having an “eye for talent” and she possessed some of the earliest works of Picasso, Miro and Bacon.
The Most Elegant Woman in Paris
Living with Art
To me, the most impressive part of the Musee des Beaux Arts exhibit is how it captures the total persona of the legendary Delubac — from displays of her glamorous wardrobe to photographs of the interior of her Paris apartment. Surrounding each photo of her home are the pieces of art that are shown in the picture.
.
Sitting room of Jacqueline Delubac
The multi-floor Museum exhibit featured rooms recreated precisely from Delubac’s apartment.
Jacqueline Delubac died in 1997 with no heirs. The Musee des Beaux Arts in Lyon is custodian of more than 3o of her paintings and pastels by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas, Bonnard, Vuillard, Léger, Braque,Picasso, Miró, Bacon and others.
Due to the contribution, the Lyon modern art museum possesses the largest Impressionist collection in France, outside Paris.
The Most Elegant Woman in Paris
More about Lyon
Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse and New Chaussures
Lyon, France: Behind Closed Doors
Categories: Around France, Blog, Loving Art, Loving Fashion, Loving History, Lyon
Deborah–once again you have a wonderful account of what can be seen in France and your travels are getting to more and more interesting places. Keep on traveling and having all that fun so we can live through your blogs!!! That is until we can also participate and that will be soon as we are off to Normandy and Brittany the 1st of July and in Uzes later in the year.
You’re going to places I want to travel next. Can’t wait to hear all about it. Thanks for the comment!