Adélaïde Labille-Guiard: Artist in the Age of Revolution

by Laura Auricchio

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard (1749–1803), a remarkable portraitist, was among the small number of women ever granted membership in the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Her work was sought out by such diverse figures as the aunts of Louis XVI and the future American president Thomas Jefferson. Yet, unlike her contemporary and fellow Academy member, Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun, Labille-Guiard remained in France during the Revolution and participated in the reinvention of the country, its art, and its women. Tracing the fascinating story of her rise and fall in the context of her tumultuous times, Laura Auricchio fills major gaps in the scholarship on art in the age of the French Revolution, on women artists, and particularly on the intriguing figure of Labille-Guiard herself. The artist is represented in the J. Paul Getty Museum by one of her finest works, the 1779 pastel Delightful Surprise ; her paintings are held in a number of important museums in America and Europe.

Genres: Art, Art History, French Revolution, France, 18th Century

144 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2009

Reviews

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice light book that sticks to the point and explains the main highlights and challenges of this French artist. Illustrated with some nice plates. Labille-Guiard fought her way up to ever increasing prestige in the art world by actively pursuing her craft and moving beyond the constraints afforded to her sex during the reign of Louis XVI. One of only four female academicians, painter to the royal family, teacher to other women ... her career was on a rising path despite libels about the authorship of her artwork (often hinted to be by Vien, her master, or her husband) and antiquated notions about what women should do with their time. The French Revolution of 1789 brought many careers to a halt and Labille-Guiard's was no exception. Unlike her more famouse contemporary Vigee-Lebrun, she didn't flee but she had to adapt and quickly. With most of her clientele beheaded or gone and she herself in a bit of danger by association, Labille-Guiard strived to paint according to the new revolutionary ideals of simplicity and republican fervor. Nevertheless, she was slowly sidelined by history as a flood of new competition burst through the gates once the art world in France opened to new competition unrestrained by royal institutions and allergic to any hint of feudalism. In fact, as it often happens, the revolutionaries ended up creating their own system of censorship and strict rules about what and who should create art. Unsurprisingly, women were yet again sidelined in the arts and encouraged once again to do their patriotic duty of educating children and supporting husbands even when a flood of female creators had already stepped into the arena. But Labille-Guiard did manage to create a life for herself even after the upheaval and keep doing what she knew best in the new era even as the lights dimmed. This book does a great job at showing us a master at her easel, attentive to textures, surfaces and human expression but also at letting her art speak for itself in a tumultuous world.

[Marielle Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I get too into my historical projects bc tell me why after writing a paper on this lady i was in love with her objectively not that attractive husband and nearly brought to tears by a painting her student did of her?? for a second the spirit of adelaide labille-guiard entered my body and took control of my brain. anyway i probably read this book like 3 times if you combine all the times i flipped through it looking for stuff for my paper. laura auricchio you’re a real one! and labille-guiard was literally the coolest person to ever live probably. also appreciated the author not giving in to the tedious practice of comparing labille-guiard with her “rival” élisabeth vigée-lebrun. newsflash! just because they’re two women with similar career paths doesn’t mean we need to compare them all the time! they didn’t even display animosity for each other! let’s just appreciate this diva on her own terms.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up for a research project and put it down feeling enlightened.

Labille-Guiard was forgotten as life moved on after the French Revolution of the late 1790’s. Aurrichio’s book shines a bright light on the woman portrait artist whose talent was arguably as skilled as Jacques-Louis David. This book was a great overview of Labille-Guiard’s life and career as an artist, showing how her rise to fame was not because of family lineage or royal favor, but pure drive and talent.

[Laura Auricchio]

Two reviews have recently been posted on-line: The Big Think and The Art Book.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scholarly and a bit difficult if you didn't major in art history, but a fascinating tale of a woman ahead of her time.