Vigée Le Brun: The Queens Painter (2015)

A renowned painter and a free-thinker, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun is still considered ahead of her time. Follow the artist's adventures over the course of her nearly 90-year life in this captivating docudrama.

Director:

Arnaud Xainte

Writers:

Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (memoirs by) (as Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun), Jean-Frédéric Thibault

Stars:

Stéphane Ronchewski, Xavier Salmon, Katharine Baetjer

Cast

Credited cast:
Stéphane Ronchewski	...	Narrator (voice)
Xavier Salmon	...	Self - Directeur du département des Arts graphiques, Musée du Louvre, Paris
Katharine Baetjer	...	Self - Curator of the department for European Painters, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
Joseph Baillio	...	Self - author of book 'Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun, 1755-1842'
Geneviève Haroche-Bouzinac	...	Self - author of biography 'Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun'
Danièle Bloch	...	Self - art historian
Juliette Trey	...	Self - Musée du Louvre, Paris
Françoise Pitt-Rivers	...	Self - author of 'Biographie de Madame Vigée-Lebrun' (as Françoise Pitt Rivers)
Gwenola Firmin	...	Self - conservator, Musée national des Châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon
Jérôme Dorival	...	Self - musicologist
Alexandre Stroev	...	Self - professor of literature and comparative literature, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3
Marlène Goulard	...	Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun jeune
Julie Ravix	...	Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun âgée
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chiara Vergne	...	Julie Vigée Lebrun

Storyline

A renowned painter and a free-thinker, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun is still considered ahead of her time. Follow the artist's adventures over the course of her nearly 90-year life in this captivating docudrama.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to jacques louis david | reference to jean jacques rousseau | affair of the necklace | reference to angelika kauffmann | reference to sir william hamilton | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Drama | History

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User Reviews

A remarkably influential 18th century woman's life

This documentary was a very nice overview of the life of this remarkable artist. Not only was she talented with a paintbrush, she apparently had other gifts that made her a successful and resilient woman of her time.

As someone interested in historical re-enactment and who seeks out many of the late 18th century portraits of women, it was fascinating to hear more about Vigée Le Brun's techniques, subjects, and strategies. I was unaware of her influence on the late century fashions and styles that have totally colored my understanding of this period.

It was also a remarkable overview of a crucial period in French history, as we follow her through the complex trajectory of her 87 year life.

A visual treat and a historical gem. Worth your time.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 October 2015 (France)

Also Known As:

The Fabulous Life of Elisabeth Vigee Labrun

Company Credits

Production Co:

ARTE, Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée, Département de la Charente-Maritime

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 103 min (total run time) (in two parts)

Color:

Color