185 - Zoe de Rothschild (1863–1916) Portrait of Betty Louise de Rothschild (1863–1947) Pastel and oil pastels on cardboard, 55 x 45 cm Signed and dated “Rothschild Lambert, April 1892” in the upper left corner

Zoe de Rothschild (1863–1916) Portrait of Betty Louise de Rothschild (1863–1947) Pastel and oil pastels on cardboard, 55 x 45 cm Signed and dated “Rothschild Lambert, April 1892” in the upper left corner Zoé Lucie Betty de Rothschild (1863–1916), known by her artist name Lucie Lambert, was the daughter of Baron Gustave de Rothschild and the granddaughter of James de Rothschild, founder of the French branch of the famous banking dynasty. Married to the Belgian banker Léon Lambert, she divided her time between Paris and Brussels, where she hosted a salon frequented by the artistic and intellectual elite. A talented painter, she specialized in portraiture and regularly exhibited her works under her pseudonym so that she would be judged for her artistic merits rather than her name. An enlightened patron, she supported the arts and actively participated in the cultural life of her time. Her life story illustrates the commitment of certain women in the Rothschild family to the fields of artistic creation and philanthropy. The subject of our pastel is Hélène Betty Louise Caroline de Rothschild (1863–1947), the first cousin of Zoé de Rothschild : her father, Salomon James de Rothschild, was the brother of Gustave de Rothschild, Zoé’s father. A woman of letters, a pioneer in the automotive industry, and a patron of the arts, she led a remarkable intellectual and social life.