Elisabeth Louise Vigee-Lebrun…A Remarkable Colorist

Elisabeth Louise Vigee-Lebrun…A Remarkable Colorist

Elisabeth Louise Vigee-le Brun. Sigh. My mentor, my idol, my goddess, Marie Antoinette’s favorite portraitist. And although she lived in the 18th century, she still whispers in my ear.

Upon making my first acquaintance with Elisabeth at the Louvre eleven years ago, we’ve been fast friends ever since. There I was, meandering the rooms of the second floor of the Sully Wing, in total rapture drinking in such an embarrassment of riches only to be stopped dead in my tracks by the painting below, one of her many self portraits. Look at the sheer perfection of the composition, the exquisite color palette with its subtle passages, all the while expressing such expressive warmth.

And then, I saw this beautiful gem.



After that, I was hooked, happily undertaking pilgrimages to view her masterpieces whenever I was so fortunate -to the Kimball Art Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas,

The National Gallery in London,

The Uffizi,


Her life was as full and colorful as her paintings and her biography is a fascinating read.


A great site to view all of her work and learn everything Vigee -Lebrun is Batguano.com. (Why a site devoted to this amazing woman is referenced to bat droppings is beyond me, but what’s in a name, right?)

I appreciate beautiful colors wherever I may find them and as a color consultant, would love to help you with yours.

Elizabeth Brown 206-353-0454 eb-color.com

all above images

Original post at Colorific.

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