Renata Borgatti (1894-1964), a concert pianist, had a brief love affair with Romaine Brooks. Here, Brooks paints Renata playing at her piano while Brooks, herself, is paying tribute to Whistler's "At the Piano" whom Brooks greatly admired.

See Brooks in Juxtaposition
 

James Abbott McNeill Whistler At The Piano 1858-1859

Romaine Brooks   Renata Borgatti au Piano  1920

Romaine's painting was showed in Paris at the Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts that year. For her efforts she was made Croix de la Legion d'Honneur after the Salon.

 

Photo of Renatta Borgatti with friends including Romaine Brooks who painted her in 1920 
 

Notes:
 

• See John Singer Sargent's drawing of Renata Borgatti


Renatta Borgatti
1921

• See more on Romaine Brooks