Mystery of the controversial painting "the origin of the world" revealed: the historians found a naked model

It seems that one of the great mysteries in the history of art is solved. Experts finally identified the model, who posed for the scandalous paintings of the XIX century "the origin of the world" by the French painter Gustave Courbet. Researchers are 99 percent confident that the sample erotic painting posed Paris ballerina do with Kenya Constance (Constance Queniaux).

Although the picture was painted in 1865, she still has not lost its ability to shock the audience. The canvas depicts a Nude woman moved apart feet. The picture can not see the face, genitals, belly and one boob.

For decades, art historians were convinced that the naked torso belongs to the artist's mistress, the Irish Joanna Hiffernan. However, doubts about the identity of the model was caused in the first place, the fact is — the picture of pubic hair was dark in color, but Joanna was a redhead and she even earned the nickname Joe Fire.

New evidence directly pointing to the former dancer of the Paris Opera, were found in correspondence between Alexandre Dumas-the son and of the writer Georges sand.

After do with Kenya quit ballet, she was the mistress of a Turkish diplomat Khalil Sherif Pasha, who ordered Courbet in the summer of 1866 this painting for its erotic collection.

The French historian Claude Schopp found this thread when looking through copies of the letters Dumas son, who did not like the artist Gustave Courbet. He was particularly puzzled by one passage:

When Schopp addressed to the original, he saw the error in decoding instead of "interview" there must be an "interior" (in this context meaning "inner thigh").

The historian has shared his discovery with the head of the printing Department of the National library of France Sylvie Aubin, who also believe that former ballet dancer posing for a picture.

At that time, Constance do with Kenya was 34 years old, she left the ballet and competed for the attention of the Sheriff Halil Pasha with the famous courtesan Jeanne de Tourbe. The library has been preserved a few photos of the ballerina, including pioneer photos of Nadar. Photos and contemporaries testify that I do with Kenya was a lovely dark hair.

The identity of the model who posed for the scandalous paintings, was known in the circle of art lovers, but over time, Constance became a respected lady and philanthropist, therefore, according to Aubin, it ceased to remember and soon forgot.

It also became known that in 1908, when do with Kenya died, she left Courbet painting of camellias, the center of which was depicted revealed a bright red flower. Thanks to the work of Alexander Dumas "the lady with the camellias" this flower was associated with courtesans. Aubin believes that the painting of the camellias ballet dancer gave Halil Pasha.