When Sargent finished his Salon picture --  it was painted, varnished and ready for exhibition with the right dress strap dangling off her shoulder. Mike Pieczonka has altered the image of the painting (as we have it today) to give us an idea of how it might have originally looked based on the photograph of the painting at the time.

Photo of Madame X as if hung at the Salon

From:  Mike Pieczonka
Date:  Oct 4, 2005

Natasha,  I had a sec today and think I've got what you want...    It's incredible what a different statement the painting becomes when you change just that one strap!!  It's no wonder he was chased out of Paris really! 

Madame X

Note
Special thanks to Mike Pieczonka of Toronto, Ont. Ca., a Friend of the JSS Gallery, for sending along this image.