International contemporary art platform1843–2000
Joanna Hiffernan
Joanna Hiffernan (1843–1903) was an Irish model and muse who posed for painters James Whistler and Gustave Courbet between 1861 and 1868. She was Whistler's favored model and lover, depicted in several of his renowned works.
Biography
Joanna Hiffernan was born in 1843 in Limerick, Ireland. From 1861 to 1868, she worked as a model posing for well-known artists James Whistler and Gustave Courbet. Joanna was Whistler's favorite model and also his lover. She is depicted in several famous paintings, including Whistler's "Symphony in White No. 1: The White Girl," "Symphony in White No. 2," and "Symphony in White No. 3," as well as Courbet's "The Beautiful Irishwoman" and "Sleeping Women." Joanna belonged to the cultural milieu of Great Britain and Ireland and was connected to the artistic circle of the late 19th century. She died in 1903 in Holborn, United Kingdom. Joanna Hiffernan died in 2000.
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