Estelle: A Novel
The art world is not notable for instant success – we’ve all praised debut novels, but have you ever heard of an amazing first painting? The famed Edgar Degas was driven to paint, but like many young artists, struggled to find inspiration and patrons. Late in 1872 he spent five months in his mother’s gracious New Orleans home, seeking commissions (one of which established his reputation) and painting Musson/De Gas family portraits.
By 1970 the once-elegant neighborhood has fallen on hard times, but things are looking up for one of the elderly mansions. Anne Gautier, recent college grad and art museum intern, has begun restoring the house. In the attic she finds young Marguerite Fontenot’s journal, which vividly portrays Degas’ New Orleans adventure, as well as the girl’s growing affection for the artist. Anne is breathlessly reading the journal, hoping for insight on Degas’ early years, when she sees a newly-cleaned and rehung portrait by Degas in her museum – Portrait of Mme René De Gas, née Estelle Musson. Anne is thrilled, at least until she finds an identical portrait rolled up in her boss/boyfriend’s office. What is the charming curator up to?
Linda Stewart Henley makes a promising debut with her novel, Estelle. Ms. Henley brings New Orleans to life as she braids two intriguing stories – Edgar Degas’ art and dalliance with Marguerite, and Anne’s treasure hunt into Degas’s poorly-known early history. Either story line would have made a fine novel on its own, but it was the window into Degas’ artistic growth and New Orleans society which really resounded with me.