Paul César HELLEU (1859-1927). Portrait of an Elegant Lady. Drawing with three pencils, black stone, red chalk and white chalk. Signed in point lower right. Sight: Height : 59 cm - Width : 46 cm Note: A French painter who inspired Marcel Proust to paint Elstir in A la recherche du temps perdu, Paul Helleu is renowned for his depiction of Parisian life at the time. A friend of Claude Monet, whom he met at Durand-Ruel, and of Whistler and Sargent, he refused to exhibit with the Impressionists, although his work was noticed. Robert de Montesquiou bought prints from him and, sensitive to his work, introduced him to the Countess Greffulhe, who inspired him to produce around a hundred sketches, propelling him into Parisian society and making him a renowned portraitist of fashionable elegance. The refinement and feminine grace of his portraits were successful both in London and in New York, where he stayed. His engravings illustrated Le Figaro Illustré and L'Illustration. Appraisal by Chanoit, experts in modern drawings and paintings.