Meet the painter who
had to flee
the French Revolution
Meet the painter who had to flee the French Revolution
Self-Portrait with Straw Hat, 1782 is housed at the National Gallery in London.
Self-Portrait with Straw Hat, 1782 is housed at the National Gallery in London.
Did You Know?
Élisabeth Louise Vigée was born in Paris on April 16, 1755. Her mother was a hairdresser and her father was a portraitist. It is her father who initiated her to art .
Élisabeth Louise Vigée was born in Paris on April 16, 1755. Her mother was a hairdresser and her father was a portraitist. It is her father who initiated her to art .
In her early teens, she starts painting portraits professionally.
Her studio was seized for her practicing without a license , an event that led her to apply to the Académie de Saint-Luc , an organization that attracted artists who did not have access to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture . This was particularly the case for women artists (the Académie de Saint-Luc counted 130 female members in the 18th century).
In her early teens, she starts painting portraits professionally.
Her studio was seized for her practicing without a license , an event that led her to apply to the Académie de Saint-Luc , an organization that attracted artists who did not have access to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture . This was particularly the case for women artists (the Académie de Saint-Luc counted 130 female members in the 18th century).
She marries Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Le Brun, a painter and art dealer .
She marries Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Le Brun, a painter and art dealer .
Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie , 1786
Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie , 1786
She gives birth to a daughter , Jeanne Lucie Louise, whom she called Julie and nicknamed “Brunette” .
Her Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie caused a minor public scandal in 1787 because Élisabeth depicted herself smiling with her mouth opened and showing her teeth , a direct contravention of traditional painting conventions.
She gives birth to a daughter , Jeanne Lucie Louise, whom she called Julie and nicknamed “Brunette” .
Her Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie caused a minor public scandal in 1787 because Élisabeth depicted herself smiling with her mouth opened and showing her teeth , a direct contravention of traditional painting conventions.
She receives the patronage of Queen Marie Antoinette . She painted over 30 portraits of the queen and her family leading to the perception that she was the official portraitist of Marie Antoinette.
She receives the patronage of Queen Marie Antoinette . She painted over 30 portraits of the queen and her family leading to the perception that she was the official portraitist of Marie Antoinette.
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by Vigée Le Brun, 1778
Portrait of Marie Antoinette by Vigée Le Brun, 1778
She is received as a member of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on the same day as her rival Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. She had been initially refused based on the grounds that her husband was an art dealer. But Louis XVI gave an order to the Académie to remove that rule after being pressured by his wife, Marie Antoinette .
She is received as a member of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture on the same day as her rival Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. She had been initially refused based on the grounds that her husband was an art dealer. But Louis XVI gave an order to the Académie to remove that rule after being pressured by his wife, Marie Antoinette .
After the arrest of the royal family during the French Revolution, she fled France with her daughter , Julie, for fear of being arrested as a sympathizer of the royal family. In her 12-year absence from France, she lived and worked in Italy (1789–1792), Austria (1792–1795), Russia (1795–1801), and Germany (1801).
After the arrest of the royal family during the French Revolution, she fled France with her daughter , Julie, for fear of being arrested as a sympathizer of the royal family. In her 12-year absence from France, she lived and worked in Italy (1789–1792), Austria (1792–1795), Russia (1795–1801), and Germany (1801).
She returns to France after her name was removed from the list of counter-revolutionary émigrés.
She returns to France after her name was removed from the list of counter-revolutionary émigrés.
In her 80s, she published her memoirs in three volumes (Souvenirs).
In her 80s, she published her memoirs in three volumes (Souvenirs).
She died in Paris on March 30, 1842 at the age of 86. She created some 660 portraits and 200 landscapes in her lifetime.
She died in Paris on March 30, 1842 at the age of 86. She created some 660 portraits and 200 landscapes in her lifetime.
From Our Collection
From life at court to life in exile , Madame Le Brun made her mark wherever she went ! Browse our selection of art history gifts and games featuring work by famed portraitist, Vigée Le Brun.
The Grand Museum of Art
$49.00 USD
100 Masterpieces Scratch Poster
$20.00 USD
Memory Game - 20 Women in Art
$16.00 USD