Élisabeth Vigée-Le Brun
Biografie1755 - 1842
Uber den Künstler
Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) was born in Paris in 1755. Her father was a successful artist who encouraged her interest in art. She was apprenticed to Gabriel Briard, and she received encouragement from well-known artists Joseph Vernet, Hubert Robert and Jean-Baptiste Greuze. When she was still a teenager, Vigée Le Brun had already begun to attract wealthy clients who wanted to have their portraits painted, and in 1774 she was accepted into the painters' guild of the Académie de Saint-Luc, which increased her publicity. In 1776 she married an art dealer, J.-B.-P. Lebrun.
Her great opportunity came in 1779 when she was summoned to Versailles to paint a portrait of Queen Marie-Antoinette. The two women became friends, and in subsequent years Vigée-Lebrun painted more than 20 portraits of Marie-Antoinette. She also painted a great number of self-portraits, in the style of various artists. In 1783 Vigée-Lebrun was accepted into the Royal Academy. On the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789, she left France and for 12 years lived abroad, traveling to Rome, Naples, Vienna, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Moscow, painting portraits and playing a leading role in society. In 1801 she returned to Paris but soon left for London, where she painted portraits of the court and of Lord Byron.
Later she went to Switzerland (and painted a portrait of Mme de Staël) and then again (c. 1810) to Paris, where she continued to paint until her death. Vigée Le Brun was one of the most technically portraitists of her era. She painted 900 pictures, including some 600 portraits and about 200 landscapes.
Her great opportunity came in 1779 when she was summoned to Versailles to paint a portrait of Queen Marie-Antoinette. The two women became friends, and in subsequent years Vigée-Lebrun painted more than 20 portraits of Marie-Antoinette. She also painted a great number of self-portraits, in the style of various artists. In 1783 Vigée-Lebrun was accepted into the Royal Academy. On the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789, she left France and for 12 years lived abroad, traveling to Rome, Naples, Vienna, Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Moscow, painting portraits and playing a leading role in society. In 1801 she returned to Paris but soon left for London, where she painted portraits of the court and of Lord Byron.
Later she went to Switzerland (and painted a portrait of Mme de Staël) and then again (c. 1810) to Paris, where she continued to paint until her death. Vigée Le Brun was one of the most technically portraitists of her era. She painted 900 pictures, including some 600 portraits and about 200 landscapes.
