James Jacques Joseph Tissot (French, 1836-1902)

This self-portrait with his mistress Kathleen Newton and her niece, Lilian Hervey, dates to 1878. The artist writes "I love you" on the path alongside the Thames at Richmond and the subject matter epitomizes the relationship which was to inspire his most important paintings during his English period from 1876-1882. Lilian Hervey's pose is based on a photograph taken in Tissot's garden in St. John's Wood and she appears again in this pose in Waiting for the Ferry (Private Collection). Another composition from the same period depicting the artist with his muse, entitled Richmond Bridge places them at the same location.