Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun

N. Jeffares, Dictionary of pastellists before 1800, London 2006, p. 551.

The paper has been laid down and a support sheet is on a stretcher. The pastel has been very thickly applied, but there are some losses in the light areas, particularly on the figure's forehead, neck and chest. There is a small repair in the background at upper right and what appears to be a diagonal scrape or repaired tear descending through the signature and date. The back of the sheet is not visible so it is difficult to be precise about individual defects, but the colors remain strong and fresh.
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Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) was one of the most successful portraitists of her generation.  Trained by her father, Le Brun succeeded in gaining entrance to both the Accademia San Luca and, in 1783, to the Royal Academy, no easy feat for a female artist at the time.  In 1779 she completed her most famous portrait, of Queen Marie Antoinette, which greatly advanced her reputation.  During the Revolution Le Brun left France and traveled throughout Europe for many years.  She was greeted warmly in most aristocratic circles, and in the tradition of the courtier-artist, was often treated as the social equal of her sitters.  She returned to Paris in 1809 and spent the remainder of her life in France.  She recorded her autobiography during this time, and died in 1842.

The present portrait, an early work for the artist, depicts Marie-Rose Savalette de Lange, the wife of Etienne-René-Aignan de Sanlot, a fermier général (tax collector).  Le Brun also completed portraits of Madame Savalette de Lange's father and brother.  Depicted bust-length, in a delicate white lace gown, Mme Savalette de Lange looks out at the viewer with a slight smile.  Her gown features a large blue bow on its neckline, echoing the ribbon that holds back her hair.  Le Brun's soft tones and delicate modeling are perfectly suited to the pastel medium.