Vigée Le Brun, "Marie Antoinette with a Rose"

New exhibits will be on display from July 11, 2026 (Saturday).

Vigée Le Brun

"Marie Antoinette with a Rose"

The Otsuka Museum of Art will be showcasing the works of the most renowned female court painters of the 18th century in France, starting July 11th (Saturday).Painted by Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le BrunTop secretThe portrait "Marie Antoinette with a Rose" has been reproduced in full size on a ceramic panel and is on permanent display.IsLook forward to a portrait of Marie Antoinette, the French queen who graced the magnificent Rococo culture!

B1 exhibition room 61

Born into the Austrian Habsburg family, Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) married the French Dauphin, who would later become Louis XVI, at the age of 14. During her short 37-year life, marked by the French Revolution, she spent the longest period in the opulent Palace of Versailles. Her figure, symbolized by both splendor and tragedy, continues to be recounted in anime and films.

 

This portrait depicts the queen at the age of 28, elegantly clad in her favorite pale blue court dress (robe à la française) and holding a rose, which she cherished dearly. Pay attention to her fashion sense, which, as a fashion leader of the Rococo era, has had a wide-ranging influence from the 18th century to the present day.

1783, Oil on canvas, 116 cm × 88.5 cm

Palace of Versailles Museum (Versailles, France)

Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun (1755–1842)

She was a female painter born in the same year as Marie Antoinette, and one of the few people the queen truly trusted. She left behind many portraits that captured the queen's beauty and charm, and was active as a court painter. After the French Revolution, she traveled throughout Europe, spreading French Rococo style to various countries. In the 18th century, when it was rare for female painters to achieve success, she established international fame and became a household name.

Also, be sure to check out Vigée Le Brun's self-portrait, "The Painter and Her Daughter"!

Vigée Le Brun, "The Painter and Her Daughter," Louvre Museum (Paris, France), Gallery 62, B1.

In 1774, she married the influential art dealer Lebrun, and six years later, she gave birth to her daughter, Jeanne. This painting depicts her as a mother, holding her daughter tightly in her arms and smiling gently.