Achievements: Her fame skyrocketed in the late 18th century, when she was patronized by Queen Marie-Antoinette; whom she painted some 30 portraits of. Vigee le Brun's self portrait (above) is interesting for the time because it shows herself both as a beautiful young woman typical of upper class portrait painting popular during the time and also as a professional artist, confidently holding her artist tools. Although the portraits of Vigée Le Brun might look traditional to contemporary viewers, she was not shy in breaking established norms in the genre. For example, the welcoming gestures and slightly open-mouthed smile, as if in greeting, found in many of her portraits caused quite a stir when debuted. What first caused scandal, however, soon became style, as the pleasing naturalism and relaxed manner of Vigée Le Brun's portraits became immensely popular among the elite and trademark of the artist's distinctive style. | About the Artist: Having received some training from her portraitist father, who died when she was 12, she was encouraged to continue her artistic studies – although, being a woman, she did not have access to formal training – and by the age of 15 she had already developed a modest clientele for her portraits. By the age of 19, her works had gained so much attention that her painting materials were seized because she’d been operating as a professional artist without guild or academy membership. She swiftly joined the Académie de St Luc, at a time when very few women were admitted, and by the age of 20, she was established as an artist of the French court. In 1776, she married the leading art dealer in Paris. Obliged to flee France in 1789 because of her association with Queen Marie-Antoinette during the French Revolution, she traveled to Italy. She was remarkable not only for her technical gifts but for her understanding of and sympathy with her sitters. |
Sources:
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/international-womens-day-elisabeth-louise-vigee-le-brun
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/vigee-le-brun
https://www.theartstory.org/artist/vigee-le-brun-elisabeth-louise/
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/international-womens-day-elisabeth-louise-vigee-le-brun
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/vigee-le-brun
https://www.theartstory.org/artist/vigee-le-brun-elisabeth-louise/