Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, had an image problem: she was seen as frivolous, silly, and out-of-touch. In order to combat her poor press, the royal court commissioned a series of portraits of the queen to make her more relatable and sympathetic. Such images act as excellent propaganda machines, giving Marie Antoinette a much-needed positive spin. But what is even more marvelous is the backstory of the artist who created these portraits-- because the painter who was chosen to portray the highest woman in the land was… another woman.
Talk about a revolution.
In the third episode of the ArtCurious Podcast, we'll look at the lucky and semi-charmed life of Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, one of the most popular painters of 18th-century France and the official court painter of Marie Antoinette.
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Looking for a transcription of this episode? Check it out here. Not to be used for distribution or any other purpose without permission.
Want even MORE information? Check out the links below:
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun's memoirs
She Painted Marie Antoinette (and Escaped the Guillotine)
The Praise and Prejudices Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun Faced in her Exceptional 18th-Century Career
Vigée Le Brun: Woman Artist in Revolutionary France
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