Portrait of a Woman: Art, Rivalry, and Revolution in the Life of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard

by Bridget Quinn

Discover the story of Ad la de Labille-Guiard--a long-ignored artist and feminist of eighteenth-century France--in this imaginative and illuminating biography from an award-winning writer.

Summer in Paris, 1783. The Louvre steps, too hot and no breeze, the air electric with the heady anticipation of a coming storm: the year's Royal Salon. Bewigged and powdered Parisians mill amid pigeons, dogs, and detritus; food and flower sellers; pamphleteers and propagandists. Men and women of every estate (clergy, nobles, commoners) are united under art: to love it, to despise it, to gossip endlessly about it.

Exhibiting at the Royal Salon was not for the faint of heart, and it was never intended for women.

Enter Ad la de Labille-Guiard . . .

Born in Paris in 1749, Ad la de Labille-Guiard rose from shopkeeper's daughter to an official portraitist of the royal court--only to have her achievements reduced to ash by the French Revolution. While she defied societal barriers to become a member of the exclusive Acad mie Royale and a mentor for other ambitious women painters, she left behind few writings, and her legacy was long overshadowed by celebrated portraitist and memoirist lisabeth Vig e-Lebrun.

But Ad la de Labille-Guiard's story lives on. In this engaging biography, Bridget Quinn applies her insightful interpretation of art history to Labille-Guiard's life. She offers a fascinating new perspective on the artist's feminism, her sexuality, and her vision of the world. Quinn expertly blends close analyses of paintings with broader context about the era and inserts delicately fictionalized interpersonal scenes that fill the gaps in the historical record. This is a compelling and inspiring look at an artist too long overlooked.

INSPIRING HISTORICAL NONFICTION: Despite numerous setbacks, Labille-Guiard built a legacy as an accomplished royal portraitist and a mentor to other young women artists of her era. This tale of solidarity, self-belief, and true passion for painting is sure to inspire contemporary creatives and women today.

CREATIVE AND COMPELLING ART HISTORY BOOK: Bridget Quinn is an award-winning author and art historian who has spent years researching Ad la de Labille-Guiard's work and life. She vividly evokes both and weaves a compelling narrative at the intersection of art, gender, and politics.

GORGEOUS ART REPRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT: This biography features full-color images of artwork by Ad la de Labille-Guiard, her rumored rival lisabeth Vig e-Lebrun, and other artists of the era, including portraits of key players in the narrative. These images, interspersed throughout the book, offer valuable visual references to illuminate the engaging text even further.

AN ARTFUL GIFT BOOK: Uniquely crafted and thoroughly researched, this volume makes an outstanding gift for art history enthusiasts and readers who love exploring untold stories in women's history.

Perfect for: Readers of memoirs and biographies History buffs and fans of historical fiction and nonfiction Artists, art lovers, museumgoers, and art history students Feminists and readers seeking feminist books Francophiles and those interested in the French Revolution Fans of Portrait of a Lady on Fire and other historical dramas

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1797211870
• ISBN13: 9781797211879
• Release Date: April 2024
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.5" x 9.3"