VigΓ©e Le Brun: Woman Artist in Revolutionary Franceβ is a fascinating exhibition for reasons made plain by its title. Gender and context shouldnβt be the ultimate arbiters for why we value an artist, but they are inescapable factors when considering Elisabeth Louise VigΓ©e Le Brun (1755β1842). Much like Artemisia Gentileschi, another figure beloved by those who view the history of art through the lens of political correctness, VigΓ©e Le Brun is an anomaly: a painterβand a successful one, at thatβworking at a time when women werenβt encouraged to pursue a career in the arts. It helped that VigΓ©e Le Brun was to the studio born: her father, Louis VigΓ©e, was a society portraitist and provided lessons at home. βYou will be a painter, my child, or never will there be oneβ may be a statement indicative of paternal bias, but VigΓ©e Le Brunβs talent was evident early on. Jeanne Maissin, the artistβs mother, pushed VigΓ©e Le Brun to undertake more formal studies as a means of combating the depression she underwent upon the death of her father in 1767. Trips to the Louvre were supplemented by guidance from Gabriel FranΓ§ois Doyen and Joseph Vernet, painters of considerable repute.
VigΓ©e Le Brun was to the studio born: her father, Louis VigΓ©e, was a society portraitist.
Maissin provided working space at home as well as financial support. But VigΓ©e Le Brun achieved significant notice even as a teenager and helped supplement the familyβs income through portrait commissions.