Hélöise Leloir

Hélöise Leloir was a prolific illustrator active across the mid-nineteenth century, with documented work dating between 1820 and 1865. Her surviving documented output indicates a focus on fashion and genre scenes intended for periodical publication. Leloir’s illustrations frequently appeared in Iberian and French publications, suggesting involvement in the contemporary industry of distributing fashion plates and illustrative prints internationally.

Five works by Hélöise Leloir, consisting of four prints and one drawing, are currently represented in major museum collections. The artist’s institutional credibility is established by works held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These documented pieces include specialized plates for fashion magazines, such as an Illustration for a French fashion magazine, alongside several contributions to La Elegancia—a periodical published in Barcelona and potentially San Sebastian. Notable works documented from La Elegancia include the prints Number 473 from La Elegancia Barcelona, Two Women Outdoors, No. 720, from La Elegancia (Barcelona), and Six Women Outdoors, No. 676, from La Elegancia. The detailed compositions and attention to attire characteristic of Hélöise Leloir prints, such as Two Women with a Mirror, No. 868, from La Elegancia (San Sebastian?), ensure the preservation of these historical documents. Due to their age and inclusion in institutional holdings, high-quality prints of her work are frequently available for study.