Vigée Le Brun, an Artist in Revolutionary France

The Metropolitan Art Museum presents an exhibition about a self-taught female painter who was able to carve a space for herself in the French court. Elizabeth Louise Vigéee Le Brun (1755-1842) is considered one of the most important female artists for her outstanding skill as a portrait painter and her success in France and Europe during one of the most tumultuous periods in European history. Married to an art dealer, at the age of 28 Vigéee Le Brun was accepted into the Royal Painting and Sculpture Academy (one of only four women to achieve this honor) thanks to Queen Marie Antoinette's support. Her relationship with the Queen forced the artist to flee France during the events of the French Revolution, seeking refuge in Italy, Switzerland, Russia, and Germany. One of Vigée Le Brun's legacies was a testament of her era, from the point of view of a woman who was able to rise, with her skill and good grace, to places that at the time were reserved for men. This exhibition is the first retrospective devoted to Elizabeth Louise Vigéee Le Brun and the second focused on her work. For more information, visit: http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2016/vigee-le-brun