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No. 07The 1700s
A woman with a red headband embraces her young daughter, both in soft white classical dresses.Rococo / Neoclassicism

Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun

1755 – 1842 · France

Marie Antoinette's portraitist, who fled a revolution and kept painting.

Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie, 1789. Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. Public domain · Source: Wikimedia Commons

Painting

Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun

1755 – 1842 · France

A self-taught prodigy who became the favourite portraitist of Queen Marie Antoinette. When the Revolution broke out she left France and built a career across Italy, Austria and Russia.

Know more on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Fact file

Born
1755
Died
1842
Country
France
Era
The 1700s
Style
Rococo / Neoclassicism
Disciplines
Painting
Key work
Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie (1789)
Medium
Oil on panel
Where to see it
Musée du Louvre, Paris, France

Curiosity!

It is believed

An earlier self-portrait showing her smiling with parted lips is said to have shocked Salon visitors in 1787 — showing teeth was considered improper.

What we know (and what we don’t)

  • It is believed

    She painted Marie Antoinette many times — around thirty portraits.

  • Documented

    She left Paris in October 1789 and returned only in 1802.

Where to see her

On view right now

Museums that own her work

Owning isn’t always showing: works rotate, go into storage or travel on loan — check before you go.

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Exhibition list last checked 25 Oct 2026.