180 Paintings By Artist Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755 1842), A French Portraitor

Elizabeth VigeeLebrun (Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun), a beautiful and cautious careerist, was really adored by Queen Marie Antoinette and Empress Catherine II could not stand to disgust her. Why this will become evident after reading the artist s biography. Elisabeth Louise VigéeLebrun was born in the household of Louis Vigee, a bourgeois lower classes artist who was neither especially successful or affluent. The girl began drawing nearly from birth. Her father guided her first steps, but he died at a young age. The mother, who was known for her quarrelsome and nasty personality, quickly remarried, and the very young Elizabeth was sent away to learn to draw and earn her own food. Elisabeth Vigee s paintings and sketches had one significant quality: they were pleasing to the public at first glance. She had regular clients by the age of 16. Also, some particularly astute followers signed up for picture sessions in order to become acquainted with the artist