Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun

The Exceptional Woman

Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun (1755-1842) was an enormously successful painter, a favorite portraitist of Marie-Antoinette, and one of the few women accepted into the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. In her role as an artist, she was simultaneously flattered as a charming woman and vilified as monstrously unfeminine. In the Exceptional Woman, Mary D. Sheriff uses Vigee-Lebrun's career to explore the contradictory position of "woman-artist" in the moral, philosophical, professional, and medical debates about women in eighteenth-century France. Central to Sheriff's analysis is one key question: given the cultural norms and social attitudes that regulated a woman's activities, how could Vigee-Lebrun conceive of herself as an artist, and indeed become a successful one, in old-regime France. Paying particular attention to painted and textual self-portraits, Sheriff shows how Vigee-Lebrun's images and memoirs undermined the assumptions about "woman" and the strictures imposed on women. Engaging ancien-regime philosophy as well as modern feminism, psychoanalysis, literary theory, and art criticism, Sheriff's interpretations of Vigee-Lebrun's paintings challenge us to rethink the work of this controversial woman artist.

The Memoirs of Madame Vigée Lebrun

The Memoirs of Madame Vigée Lebrun is a fascinating exploration of the life and artistry of one of the 18th century's most celebrated portrait painters. Written with a vivid and engaging narrative style, Vigée-Lebrun interweaves her experiences in the male-dominated world of art with astute observations on society, gender, and patronage. The memoir offers a richly detailed account of her interactions with notable figures of the time, including Marie Antoinette, showcasing not only her artistic contributions but also the intricate social dynamics of pre-Revolutionary France. The work serves as a significant historical document, revealing the challenges and triumphs faced by women artists in an era that often sidelined their contributions. Louise-Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun was born into a family of painters in 1755, acquiring technical expertise from her father and a profound appreciation for the arts. Her close relationship with Queen Marie Antoinette facilitated her rise, providing her unparalleled access to the elite circles of French society. This unique background significantly influenced her perspective, resulting in a memoir that is at once personal and broadly social, reflecting the tumultuous artistic landscape of her time. This memoir is highly recommended for readers interested in the intersections of gender, art, and history. It provides a compelling lens through which to understand not only Vigée-Lebrun's personal achievements but also the wider societal changes occurring during her lifetime. Ultimately, it is a testament to the resilience of women in the arts, inviting readers to appreciate the richness of the past through Vigée-Lebrun's insightful recollections.

The Sweetness of Life