Gabrielle Renard was born in 1878 in Essoyes-sur-Aube. In 1894 Renoir hired the young girl to help his wife during her second pregnancy. For many years thereafter Gabrielle was the artist's favourite model. In 1914 she married the painter Conrad Heusler Slade. She died in 1959 in Beverly-Hills, California.

François Daulte has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this work