ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Agostina Segatori: From Model to Café du Tambourin Proprietress

artist · 2026-10-07

Agostina Segatori, who was born in Ancona, Italy, in 1841, relocated to Paris and started her modeling career in 1860 for Édouard Manet's L'Italienne. She served as a muse for various artists, including Vincent van Gogh, and had a 12-year romantic involvement with Édouard Joseph Dantan, resulting in an illegitimate son named Jean-Pierre, before their separation in 1884. In 1885, she established Café du Tambourin at 27 rue de Richelieu, later relocating to 62 Boulevard de Clichy, where she drew in artists like Paul Gauguin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Van Gogh was romantically linked with her from December 1886 until May 1887, trading paintings for meals. By July 1887, he stopped working at the café, leading to its decline and Segatori's eventual financial downfall. She passed away in 1910.

Key facts

  • Agostina Segatori was born in Ancona, Italy, in 1841.
  • She began modeling in 1860 for Édouard Manet's L'Italienne.
  • She modeled for Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Eugène Delacroix, Édouard Joseph Dantan, and Vincent van Gogh.
  • She had a 12-year relationship with Édouard Joseph Dantan, with whom she had an illegitimate son, Jean-Pierre.
  • In 1885, she opened Café du Tambourin, first at 27 rue de Richelieu, then at 62 Boulevard de Clichy.
  • The café was frequented by Paul Gauguin, Norbert Goeunne, Emile Bernard, Louis Anquetin, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
  • Van Gogh and Segatori had a romantic relationship from December 1886 to May 1887, during which he traded paintings for food.
  • Segatori died in 1910 after her business failed and was repossessed.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • Ancona
  • Italy
  • Paris
  • France
  • Washington, DC
  • USA
  • Chicago
  • IL
  • Amsterdam
  • Netherlands
  • 27 rue de Richelieu
  • 62 Boulevard de Clichy

Sources

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