Marie Antoinette in a Park 1775 - 1786

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun sketched Marie Antoinette in a Park using graphite and charcoal. As one of the few women admitted to the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, Le Brun became the official portraitist of Queen Marie Antoinette, who was often the subject of public fascination and scrutiny. In this drawing, Marie Antoinette is depicted in profile, surrounded by the trappings of wealth and aristocracy. While Marie Antoinette’s extravagant lifestyle became symbolic of the monarchy’s detachment from the people, this image offers a glimpse into the queen's carefully constructed public persona. Le Brun's intimate portrayal aimed to humanize the Queen, challenging the satirical portrayals that circulated at the time. Consider how Le Brun navigates the politics of court portraiture. While fulfilling her role as royal portraitist, she also subtly asserts her own presence and perspective as a woman in a male-dominated art world.