Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun

Madame leBrun;Elisabeth-Louise Vigée-leBrun

1755 (Paris) – 1842 (Paris)

Greuze was a friend of her father’s; she learned from him, though perhaps not formally. She and Kauffman spent two days together, and though opposites, enjoyed each other’s company. Otherwise, significant acquaintanceships are difficult to demonstrate, partly because of the social niceties of the circles she moved in and her own métier as a society portraitist. So she called on Herschel (who showed her sun-spots), Martín y Soler called on her, and Reynolds paid her compliments; and she painted the teenage Byron, and Paisiello (in an apartment cold enough that they had to blow on their hands to stay warm).