Identity:

J. M. Lalouette was married, with a daughter called Eugénie (Bibi). His wife's sister was also called Eugenie.

Life:

J. M. Lalouette, restaurateur, is recorded as having a restaurant at 5 Rue de l'Odeon, Paris, between 1860 and 1868. It is not clear where his restaurant premises were before this, somewhere 'near the Rue Dauphine' according to the Pennells. It appears that Whistler frequented his establishment with Fantin-Latour and Legros during his first stay in Paris, 1855-59, enjoying particularly a 'wonderful Burgundy at one franc the bottle, le cachet vert, called for only on great occasions'.

Whistler left for London owing Lalouette a great deal of money, and although Lalouette writes that he has received an instalment in 1860, two years later, he was still awaiting full payment, and was being pestered by other local tradesmen for Whistler's address (Lalouette to JW, 8 August 1860, #02475; 6 May 1862, #02476). A note on the stretcher of Symphonie en argent et émeraude (YMSM 68) suggests that it might have been accepted in lieu of further payment of Whistler's debt.

A beautiful etching of Lalouette's daughter, Bibi Lalouette (K.51), might also have been made in part payment, but eventually, Whistler paid his debts. The restaurant was closed in 1871 on the death of its owner.

Bibliography:

Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908, vol. 1, p. 55.