Daring: The Life and Art of Elisabeth Vige Le Brun [Hardcover]

The dramatic life story of ?lisabeth Vig?e Le Brun, one of the greatest portrait painters of all time.

• Named a Bank Street Best Childrens Book of the Year (2026)
• Foreword ReviewsIndies Award, Silver Winner

Supremely talented and strategically charming, ?lisabeth Vig?e Le Brun (17551842) overcame tragedy and broke gender barriers to reach the height of success as a portrait painter, first in Paris, and then across Europe.

After losing her father at age twelve and facing financial insecurity, she fought to gain access to artistic training and opportunity. She was coerced into marriage at age twenty, to an art dealer who both helped and harmed her career. Vig?e Le Brun deployed her intelligence and beauty to attract powerful clients, who relied on her to style the personal identities they projected to the world.

Vig?e Le Brun's salons were the talk of Paris, and she became court painter to Marie Antoinette. Then came the French Revolution, when marginalized groups demanded change to centuries-old systems of oppression. Vig?e Le Brun was forced to reexamine her alliances and run for her life, taking her young daughter but leaving her husband behind.

Making her way through the countrysides and capitals of Europe and Russiaincluding a stay at the imperial court of Catherine the Greatthe artist conquered fear and adversity to refashion her life and her art.

"Notably, the author furnishes information on the noblewomen whose portraits Le Brun painted, helping readers answer the question, “Where were the women? Beautifully executed; a visual and narrative tl&