At Père Lathuille

Manet’s humour combines with his love of pretty women and their clothes in this painting. Humour is present since the subject Manet had chosen was a gigolo of prepossessing air seducing a much older woman under the ironic eye of the waiter. The admirably free composition was painted at the restaurant Du P�re Lathuille, and features the owner’s son as the gigolo. The woman was Mlle Judith French, a relative of Offenbach. Manet does wonders with their costumes, feasting himself on the details.