#ArtSaturday Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (Marie Élisabeth Louise)
1755 -1842
Court portrait painter during the French Revolution pic.twitter.com/0HSrWRe7jt— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée (pronounced Vee-ZHAY) Le Brun
Vigée is famous because she became Marie Antoinette’s favorite painter pic.twitter.com/HKV8hXbncX— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Associated somewhat with NeoClassicism [New Classicism, or Return to Classicism] more than with the Rococo (bright colors) period: “classical” poses, costumes, etc. pic.twitter.com/eXm3Hws6mU— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée painted over 600 portraits and over 200 landscapes, many of which were destroyed during the French Revolution.Bacchante, 1785 pic.twitter.com/piVlT24y2S
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Bacchante with Leopard Skin, 1785
(sometimes erroneously labeled “Tiger Skin”) pic.twitter.com/ONDH2Ex0bn— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
By her early teens, Vigée Le Brun was making a living by painting portraits professionally.Vigée Le Brun’s mother, stepfather, brother pic.twitter.com/JHaEZDBAPM
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
1776: Vigée Le Brun caused a minor public scandal with this self-portrait because it partially showed her teeth, which was considered an absolute horror. pic.twitter.com/ME6o5s1GuW— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Critics were outraged by Vigée Le Brun’s partial showing her teeth in the self-portrait, calling it “an “affectation,” and insisting that “art-lovers and persons of taste condemn it.” pic.twitter.com/HOlijvqwJD— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
There is “no precedent for showing teeth among the ancients,” critics wrote in their reviews, but instead of stopping Vigée Le Brun, it seems to have encouraged her: showing her teeth in self-portraits became her trademark. pic.twitter.com/FAaQFdqrPB— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Madame de Roissy, 1773 pic.twitter.com/TBtDm8cJEJ
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Princess de Talleyrand
(Any picture in b&w was destroyed during the Revolution; Vigée Le Brun tried to make copies, from memory, afterward.) pic.twitter.com/BnOAW3f27P— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Madame Grand (Noël Catherine Vorlée) pic.twitter.com/jGwzuNtx2o
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Joseph Hyacinthe François de Paule de Rigaud, Comte de Vaudreuil
(A friend of the King’s brother, de Vaudreuil was Vigée Le Brun most important private patron.) pic.twitter.com/BIwORqBUnU— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Jeanne Bécu, Comtesse du Barry
(A courtesan who became the last Maîtresse-en-titre of Louis XV of France, du Barry later became a victim of The Reign of Terror, immediately after the French Revolution.) pic.twitter.com/djg81rjewz— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Countess Potocka pic.twitter.com/G9ZzWONBe1
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun’s portraits were considered “flattering” to her subjects by their contemporaries.Comtesse de la Châtre, Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps pic.twitter.com/Ndg3OdAbE6
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun’s portraits were considered “flattering” to her subjects by their contemporaries.Comtesse de la Châtre, Marie Charlotte Louise Perrette Aglaé Bontemps pic.twitter.com/Ndg3OdAbE6
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Because of Vigée Le Brun’s reputation in portraits, she was invited to Versailles by Marie Antoinette herself.Marie Antoinette, 1778 pic.twitter.com/NrHAia4ItD
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun painted more than 30 portraits of Marie Antoinette and came to be regarded as the “official” court portraitist.Marie Antoinette, 1779 pic.twitter.com/f955zKFfcU
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Marie Antoinette, 1778 pic.twitter.com/aCeVflsDxD
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Marie Antoinette, 1779 pic.twitter.com/Cf3tpdNJED
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Marie Antoinette, 1779 pic.twitter.com/PUy8braQYM
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Marie Antoinette, 1779-1789
(All these portraits of the Queen were bayoneted or otherwise destroyed during the French Revolution; afterward, Vigée Le Brun attempted to re-create them from memory.) pic.twitter.com/oaN4ALuc9f— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
1787: Vigée Le Brun improved Marie Antoinette’s deteriorating reputation by portraying her as a “mother,” not just as the queen, with her children.
(The empty cradle is alluding to the Queen’s youngest child, who had died.) pic.twitter.com/xlvOOkT78i— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Marie Antoinette, en Chemise, 1783
This portrait caused national outrage and backlash from the public because of the Queen’s “dress”: made of expensive, imported muslin instead of the traditional silk, critics complained it looked like “undergarments.” pic.twitter.com/5zTXzL12zc— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
In an attempt to counteract backlash & outspoken criticsm of Marie Antoinette en Chemise, Vigée Le Brun quickly painted Marie Antoinette en Versailles (1783). pic.twitter.com/MRiaRt4q55— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
In an attempt to gain admittance to the Salon, which was considered “de rigueur” for all French painters, Vigée Le Brun submitted a more “traditional” painting: Vigée Le Brun was rejected.Peace Bringing Back Abundance pic.twitter.com/R1mjgliB9E
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun’s painting/application for admission to the prestigious Salon was opposed on the grounds that her husband was an “art dealer,” and ostensibly not because she was a favorite of the Court. pic.twitter.com/yTYGpCVQ1l— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
On pressure from his wife Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI overruled Vigée Le Brun’s “rejection” from Salon. As you can imagine, this did not make Vigée Le Brun more popular with fellow artists and critics.King Louis XVI
(bayoneted during Revolution) pic.twitter.com/tkgIWS9Fx9— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
portraits of the Dauphin (later, Louis XVII), 1787-1789 pic.twitter.com/Wqe7LX7m5f— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Yolande de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac
(Presented at Court the year after Marie Antoinette became Queen, de Polignac became Marie Antoinette’s favorite: de Polignac’s extravagance created many enemies at Court.) pic.twitter.com/cbBR8YWvgy— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
portraits of Yolande de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac, Marie Antoinette’s favorite pic.twitter.com/n0K6dyGefE— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun painted self-portraits with her daughter Jeanne Lucia, known as “Julie.” pic.twitter.com/7YEnns8qIy— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Self-portrait, with daughter Julie pic.twitter.com/f3zZLxNqY3
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun painted many portraits of her daughter Julie, with whom she had a close & loving relationship. pic.twitter.com/kYTEvq9GiY— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
more paintings of daughter Julie, as Bather (L) and as Flora (R ) pic.twitter.com/w7pn2jLqXL
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
more paintings of daughter Julie, as Bather (L) and as Flora (R ) pic.twitter.com/w7pn2jLqXL
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Because of her close relationship with the royal family, Vigée Le Brun’s citizenship was revoked during the French Revolution, and she was forced to flee to Russia.Self-portrait pic.twitter.com/kFnTEwrqll
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
While Vigée Le Brun was in exile, her husband was forced to divorce her. Their daughter Julie was with her mother in Russia.Vigée Le Brun self-portrait pic.twitter.com/3NzoKFDsOe
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Self-Portrait pic.twitter.com/vgJyVY1LaC
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Self-Portrait pic.twitter.com/Pp1ELPgLgA
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Self-Portrait pic.twitter.com/gkNouNLDUV
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun’s fame as a portraitist, her close association with the French royal family, and her “sympathetic” portrayal of noble sitters all contributed to making Vigée Le Brun in great demand as a portrait painter abroad.Portraits of Nobility pic.twitter.com/KD77m4WGXD
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Portraits of Russian aristocrats pic.twitter.com/pPJNe1OvuR
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Alexandria & Elena, granddaughters of Catherine the Great: after the Empress objected to her granddaughters’ bare arms in the paintings, Vigée Le Brun painted in sleeves (the parts that match each girl’s respective dress). pic.twitter.com/axO2I2eyJt— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun later visited England, where she was also much in demand as a portrait painter.Portraits, Emma, Lady Hamilton (L), and of Lord Byron (R ) pic.twitter.com/F3JEPFOHbc
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Vigée Le Brun eventually returned to France, but her beloved daughter Julie remained in Russia, where she married a Russian nobleman.The Spanish Concert, 1777 pic.twitter.com/VMQKblzat1
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
#ArtSaturday Vigée Le Brun
Tombstone epitaph: “Ici, enfin, je repose…” [Here, at last, I rest…]final self-portrait pic.twitter.com/gFy3lR36Ez
— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) June 16, 2018
