Vigée-Le Brun’s "Marie-Antoinette"

From: Legion of Honor
Limited Edition: 25
Exhibition: Marie-Antoinette and the Petit Trianon at Versailles
Material: Printed vinyl
Dimensions: 35" x 72" (88cm x 182cm)

Hanging Hardware Included

 

Description

Marie-Antoinette, the wife of King Louis XVI was young, fashionable, and more than a bit out of touch with the people of France. Perhaps her greatest flight of fancy was the “hamlet” she had constructed amidst the English gardens surrounding her Petit Trianon palace at Versailles. This miniature farm village, with its groomed sheep, perfectly maintained “shacks”, and contented villagers did little to convince the people of France that the queen had a real understanding of their daily lives. For her own part, she donned bergère style dresses and walking crooks to play the part of a shepherdess.

Elizabeth Louise Vigée-Le Brun’s autobiography is also a lively read as it covers events, people and the lifestyles of Europe and Russia in the late 18th century and the early 19th century. Not only was Vigée-Le Brun in demand among royals, she was also prolific, completing over 900 paintings including 700 portraits. These portraits include 30 of her friend Marie-Antoinette like the one on this banner from 1783, Marie-Antoinette "a la rose”. Vigée-Le Brun went to great lengths to make each portrait fit the subject and tell a little of the sitter’s story. This portrait of Marie-Antoinette is no exception, painstakingly reproducing the splendor and luxury of the Queen’s garments and coiffure while capturing something of the young queen’s playful nature.

The other side of the banner is white with black text that reads “Style. Revolution.” The museum’s name and logo “Legion of Honor”, the exhibition title “Marie-Antoinette and the Petit Trianon at Versailles”, dates of the exhibition “11/17/07 – 02/17/08”, and museum’s location, “Lincoln Park: 34th Avenue at Clement Street” are listed. At the bottom the banner reads “Presented by Bank of America” with the company’s logo.

Provenance

These banners were displayed around San Francisco from November 17, 2007 through February 17, 2008 to promote the exhibition Marie-Antoinette and the Petit Trianon at Versailles at The Legion of Honor. This was the exclusive venue for the show.