Marie Antoinette /

Overview sentence?

Marie Antoinette en Chemise (1783), Vigee Le Brun, oil on canvas, (89.8 × 72cm), (MET)

Date?

1783

Dimensions?

89.8 × 72cm

Location?

MET

What was challenging about this portrait?

• Too much deviation from tradition was challenging for public - confident cope as monarchy was in decline.

• Robe en Chemise = shocking.

Where can the influence of nature be seen?

• Influence of Rousseau & idea of natural mother.

• Flowers & ribbons = traditional.

• Sublime background = dramatic.

Source: what did Mary D Sheriff say about the Robe en Chemise reaction at the time?

“Malicious people said the Queen appeared in her underwear”

Source: Albert Biome - how was she stereotyped?

“History tend to reduce people to stereotypes…Austrian Bitch”

Composition key points?

• Grand Status Portrait tradition.

• Noble figure dominates space.

• 3/4 pose to face viewer.

• Clothing dominates

Space key points?

• Dominated by sitter

• Ambiguous plain background.

• Pushed towards picture plane - shallow space.

Scale key points?

• Domestic & intimate for Status Portrait.

• Large straw hat & huge plume of ostrich feathers.

• Smaller, delicate flowers act as foil & magnify her importance.

Line key points?

• Informality

• Strong directional lines = structure & movement.

• Downward diagonal of upper arm - follows gentle slope upwards = eye led to the rose.

Form key points?

• Softly modelled & sense of mass - gentle volumes of muslin.

• Painterly - Watteau & Rubens influence.

• Delicately defined forms of feathers - transparent oil glazes.

Light & tone key points?

• Tenebrism - illuminates Marie Antoinette - status.

• Lit from side = dramatic, spotlight effect.

• Gradation of tone in dress & arms define volumes of fabric & naturalistic anatomy.

Colour key points?

• Rococo palette - pale blues & pinks (feminine)

• Neutral palette & brown desk create more serious mood = gravitas.

Pattern, ornament & texture key points?

• Free from excessive ornament apart from carving on console.

• Naturalistic patterns = folds/ruffles of fabric.

• Soft, tactile textures - delicate transparent oil glazes e.g. hair & feathers.

Robe en Chemise context?

• Imported from England

• Sheer white muslin

• Fastened down back, court at waist with a sash.

• Underneath = layers of pale blue/pink silk.

• Became synonymous with MA - her circle known as Chemise a la Reine.

Status portrait effect?

Challenges & maintains conventions

What was Vigee Le Brun inspired by in terms of philosophy?

• Rousseau & The Enlightenment e.g. dress, hat & flowers.

• But, her dress was seen as immodest for public appearances.

In what context must the hostility towards the female monarch & female artist be seen?

• Trianon (Grand & Petit).

• Located in grounds of Versailles - given to MA in 1774 by King Louis XVI.

• Intended as an escape from court life - based on English garden (less formal).

• Trianon = problematic (not seen as French) & a product of the Enlightenment.

How was this portrait inspired by technology?

• Despite simplicity, Robe en Chemise was a luxury garment in 1780s.

• Made from expensive fine, cotton fabric imported from England.

Why did the French fear the monarchy and MA?

• Feared the crown would form an alliance with MA mother’s house.

• Mother = empress of Austria.

• Many slanderous accusations levelled against her - worse because she was Austrian.

How did this influence the perception of the monarchy?

• Inflammatory - occupied an unusually threatening position & potentially powerful in her own right.

• Louis XVI seen as weak & w no mistress.

Context of materials, techniques & processes?

Palette & use of translucent oil glazes = excessively feminine.

What satellite work removes this sense of femininity from a MA portrait?

David’s linear ‘Portrait of Marie Antoinette Before her Death” (1793).

Who criticised this work?

• Visitors to the Salon of 1783.

• Key Salon for the reception of the monarchy.

• VLG & MA underestimated poor timing of the portrait.

• Anxious mood & desire for stability in France meant reception would only be hostile.