Portrait of Mrs. John E. Rovensky

early 20th century

PORTRAIT OF MRS. JOHN E. ROVENSKY (American, early 20th century) by Alphonse Jongers (Canadian, born in France, 1872-1945). The subject, Mae Caldwell Manwarring Plant Hayward Rovensky (American, 1882-1956), is seated in a Louis XV style fauteuil (armchair) wearing a blue draped evening dress over a white bodice. Her neck is accented with a strand of pearls and her dress with a cabochon pearl brooch. Her right hand rests over her lap and is accented with an emerald cocktail ring. The left background features a mantel, its mirror reflecting a bronze bust. The right background features an 18th century canvas of a man taking a woman's hand.

Mrs. Rovensky’s second husband Morton F. Plant (American, 1852-1918) was a railroad heir and steamship magnate. The couple lived at 653 Fifth Avenue and the story goes that in 1917 Cartier traded Mr. Plant the pearls that his wife wears in this portrait for their Fifth Ave. mansion. The necklace, which is actually two necklaces, a double strand of natural South Sea pearls, was worth $1 million at the time before the introduction of artificial pearls to the market. Cartier still resides at this location today, and a copy of this portrait can be seen inside.

American

Oil on canvas

64" x 53 1/2"

Gift of Mrs. Robert Grace.

PSNC.1409