Signed Steve LeBailly Original Tempera Master Study After Sargent's Lady Agnew Framed

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Signed Steve LeBailly Original Tempera Master Study After Sargent's Lady Agnew Framed

This striking original tempera painting on paper is … Read more Signed Steve LeBailly Original Tempera Master Study After Sargent's Lady Agnew Framed

This striking original tempera painting on paper is a masterful study by the late Seattle artist and historian Stephen B. LeBailly, who lived from 1947 to 2024. A soulful reinterpretation of John Singer Sargent’s iconic 1892 portrait, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, this work perfectly captures the fluid brushwork and aristocratic poise of the Gilded Age original. LeBailly’s choice of tempera provides a rare, luminous matte finish that adds a soft, dreamlike quality to the subject's lavender silk gown and the vibrant cobalt blue backdrop. The artist’s historical background is evident in the precision of the Louis XV-style chair and the subtle play of light across the sitter’s features. Presented in a monumental, deep-profile gold gilt frame with an intricate acanthus-leaf plaster relief, this work serves as an immediate architectural focal point for a grand foyer, a primary suite, or a curated fine art collection.

About the Artist
Stephen B. LeBailly was a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest art community for over five decades. As both a professional painter and a dedicated historian, his life’s mission was to explore the richness of art and history. He was renowned for his Master Series, in which he dissected the techniques of historical titans such as Sargent, Vermeer, and Velázquez. His works are prized for their technical honesty and their ability to bring the grandeur of museum-tier art into the modern domestic sphere. Verified artist provenance is ensured by his hand-signed STEVE LEBAILLY signature in the lower left corner.

Historical Significance
This painting is a significant cultural link between the 19th-century European portrait tradition and the 20th-century American studio movement. By studying Sargent, LeBailly preserved the techniques of the Grand Manner portraitists who defined an era of aristocratic elegance. This study of Lady Agnew reflects the 1892 masterpiece that made Sargent a sensation in London. The work stands as a testament to the enduring influence of the Gilded Age on American West Coast artistry and the pedagogical tradition of copying the masters to achieve technical excellence.

The Tempera Medium Advantage
Unlike modern acrylics or oils, tempera offers a unique, velvet-like surface texture that mimics the soft-focus romanticism of 19th-century portraiture. This ancient medium, favored by Renaissance masters and revived by 20th-century American artists, offers a richness of pigment and a matte finish that resists glare. The lavender silks and deep cobalt blues of this study possess a luminous quality that changes beautifully under different lighting conditions, ensuring the work remains vibrant and engaging throughout the day.

Specifications and Dimensions
Framed Height: 23 inches
Framed Width: 19.5 inches
Framed Depth: 2 inches
Sight Area Height: 15.5 inches
Sight Area Width: 12 inches
Medium: Original Tempera on Paper
Artist: Stephen B. LeBailly
Style: Romantic Realism / Gilded Age Revival
Frame: Ornate Gold Gilt Plaster Relief

Condition Report
The artwork is in good vintage condition, with vibrant, well-preserved tempera pigments. The monumental gold-gilt frame is structurally sound and presents beautifully. There is visible chipping and surface wear to the plaster gesso at the corners and edges, as shown in the detailed photographs. Rather than detracting from the piece, these imperfections lend the work an authentic antique character, giving it the look of a long-held family heirloom. The reverse retains its original wood stretcher reinforcement and hanging wire.

Designers Note
I refer to this piece as the Instant Heirloom. Its sophisticated palette of lavender, gold, and deep blue pairs exquisitely with velvet upholstery and mahogany wood. It is the ultimate solution for establishing immediate historical gravitas and a sense of refined Quiet Luxury in an entryway or above a small console table. The 2-inch depth of the frame creates a dramatic shadow-box effect, giving the artwork significant visual heft and architectural presence that anchors a room.

This Steve LeBailly Master Study offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of the late artist's legacy, bringing the spirit of John Singer Sargent into the soul of the modern home. It is a sophisticated intersection of 19th-century drama and 20th-century American artistry, ready to bring storied elegance to its next destination. See less