PALM BEACH, FLA.- One of the most renowned American modernist artists, Man Ray had a chance encounter with Juliet Browner in Los Angeles nearly 85 years ago that would change the course of his life forever. Born Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia in 1890, the eldest child of his Russian Jewish parents, Man Ray was a multitalented artist who made his name as a photographer, painter, and filmmaker. In 1911, he adopted the name “Man Ray” to abandon his immigrant identity and embrace his new life as an artist. He was part of the Dada and Surrealist movements in Europe and was known for his avant-garde style and unconventional approach to art.

Man Ray fled Nazi-occupied Paris in 1940, where he had lived for 20 years, and made his way back to the United States. He took a road trip to Hollywood, California, and through a mutual friend, he met Juliet Browner on a blind date. It was love at first sight. A young ballet dancer from New York, Juliet had moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dance career. She was described in a New Yorker article, published on September 22, 1996, as having a "dancer's grace and sculptural beauty." When Man Ray first laid eyes on her, he was immediately captivated by her "fawn-like features and slanted eyes."

Before meeting Man Ray, Juliet lived a bohemian lifestyle in Greenwich Village during the late 1920s and 30s. She was the ex-girlfriend of Willem de Kooning, and as a result she was enmeshed in the New York art scene. At the time of meeting Man Ray, who she already knew of, she was thirty years old and had a vibrant yet debonaire charm that complimented Man Ray’s sometimes harsh exterior.

Soon after meeting Juliet, Man Ray painted her oil portrait titled "Juliet” (1940). The portrait, which is considered one of his most famous paintings, captures the essence of the young dancer with its fluid brushstrokes and vivid colors. It showcases Man Ray's unique style and his ability to convey emotions and movement through his art.

The portrait is only one of two known paintings of Juliet. It depicts her wearing a blue tunic, with her head of short, curly brown hair thrown back. He was enchanted with her beauty, but this portrait distills her features into a few key characteristics – emphasizing her posture. The portrait shows Juliet from the shoulders up with her eyes closed, which reflects the artist’s early fascination with her mind and spirit. This painting was the beginning of a decade of Man Ray reinventing himself as an artist in a new, uncertain world.

Man Ray began to focus on painting and other media in California more than photography, and while he sold many of these other paintings over the years, he never sold the sentimental portrait of his love, Juliet. After Man Ray’s passing in 1976, Juliet lived with it until she died in 1991. The painting clearly held significant value to both the artist and his partner. It was finally sold through Juliet Browner’s estate to the present owner.

Man Ray and Juliet's relationship was not just a fleeting one. In 1946, the two were married in a joint ceremony with artist friends Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning. They remained together for the rest of Man Ray's life, and she served as his muse and inspiration for many of his future works. The couple's love story was chronicled in the New Yorker article, which described their relationship as a "great romance of the 20th century."