Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun: A Portraitist of the Ancien Régime Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, born in Paris on April 16, 1755, and passing away on March 30, 1842, stands as a pivotal figure in 18th-century French art. More than simply a painter of portraits, she was a shrewd observer of society, a master of capturing the essence of her subjects – particularly the aristocracy – and a remarkably resilient artist who navigated the tumultuous shifts of the Ancien Régime and beyond. Her legacy rests not only on her stunningly realistic depictions but also on her pioneering role as a female professi…