Virginie Gautreau was an American-born Paris socialite famous for her beauty. Sargent persuaded her to sit for him, and showed the portrait at the Salon of 1884. It caused a scandal.

In the original, one strap of her dress had slipped off her shoulder. Critics found it indecent, and Sargent repainted it. He soon left Paris for London, and later sold the portrait to the Met, calling it the best thing he had done.