Juliette Récamier, 1777–1849

Known for her raven hair and striking beauty, socialite Juliette Récamier captured the eyes of countless admirers and artists who visited her early 19th-century salon. People gaze at her elegance today in the Louvre, where Jacques-Louis David’s 1800 painting “Portrait of Madame Récamier” depicts Juliette reclining on a favorite furniture piece of hers: a backless, sloping sofa. This style of sofa became so associated with her that it now bears her name “recamier.”

Photo: Corbis