John Singer Sargent's 1884 portrait of Madame Pierre Gautreau, famously known as Madam X, truly earns its iconic status. As an artist, what strikes me most is its sheer graphic power. Even Madame X (1884), John Singer Sargent's famed painting of a woman in a stunning black dress, is today considered an iconic work of American art, even though its origins actually lie in Why John Singer Sargent's 1884 painting, Madame X, scandalized Paris Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau). Artist: John Singer Sargent (American, Florence 1856 1925 London). Dimensions: 82 1 8 x 43 1 4in. (208.6 x 109.9cm) Framed: 95 3 4 x 56 5 8 x 5 in. (243.2