v.
born April 16, 1755, Paris, France
died March 30, 1842, Paris
French painter.
Taught first by her father, a pastel portraitist, she was also advised by Joseph Vernet . In 1779 she was summoned to Versailles to paint Marie-Antoinette , whom she would paint at least 25 more times. At the outbreak of the French Revolution, she left France and traveled abroad, painting portraits of such notables as Lord Byron and Germaine de Staë l and playing a leading role in society. Her paintings are notable for their freshness, charm, and sensitivity, and she was one of the most technically fluent portraitists of her era.