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Elisabeth Vigée-LeBrun

Born: Paris, 16 April 1755
Died: Paris, 30 March 1842
Nationality: French
Background: 

daughter of Louis Vigée, a pastel painter specializing in portraiture

Studies: 

privately; Académie Royale

Career: 

1774 – member of Academy of St Luke (Paris); exhibits there regularly

1776 – marries Jean-Baptiste Le Brun (art dealer)

1783 – becomes Académie Royale full member (portrait painter) with acceptance of Peace Bringing Back Plenty (1780, Louvre); begins contributing regularly to Paris Salon

Travels

Belgium and The Netherlands (1781); 1789-1802 exile due to royal associations (Italy 1789-1793; Vienna 1793-94; St Petersburg 1795-1801); London (1803-05)

Commissions from: 

Marie-Antoinette (Queen of France); Lord Byron

Important Artworks: 

Self-Portrait in a Straw Hat, 1780s (The National Gallery, London)