Queen Marie-Antoinette

c. 1789

Pierre-Michel Alix after Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun

Associated Names
Pierre-Michel Alix

Artist, French, 1762 - 1817

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun

Artist After, French, 1755 - 1842

The image shows the upper half of a woman within an ornate frame surrounding her portrait. She is facing forward with a slight turn to her left. Her facial features include a fair complexion, rosy cheeks, and a composed expression. She has light brown, curly hair styled high atop her head with a feathered accessory and a large blue ribbon or bow. She wears a low-cut, white blouse or dress with ruffled lace and a richer blue garment partially visible. She also wears delicate earrings. The background inside the oval frame is dark, contrasting with her features. The outer background consists of a textured pattern of light bricks with surrounding text and decorative elements, including laurel leaves and ribbon accents.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    color etching and wash manner on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    plate: 23.3 × 17.9 cm (9 3/16 × 7 1/16 in.)
    sheet: 21 × 27.4 cm (8 1/4 × 10 13/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1942.9.2430

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2003

  • Colorful Impressions: The Printmaking Revolution in Eighteenth-Century France, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2003-2004, no. 81, as Queen Marie-Antoinette by Pierre-Michel Alix after Élisabeth Vigée-LeBrun.

Bibliography

2003

  • Colorful Impressions: The Printmaking Revolution in Eighteenth-Century France. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2003-2004: no. 81.

Inscriptions

recto: in plate, in frame surrounding oval portrait: MARIE ANTOINETTE D'AUTRICHE REINE DE FRANCE Née à Vienne / en 1755.; in plate, below oval portrait: Dédié au Roi / Par son très humble et très Respectueux Serviteur Le Vachez; below image, at left: Peint par M.me Le Brun; below image, at right: Gravé par Alex; in plate, below image, at center: A Paris chez Le Vachez sous les Colonnades du Palais Royal N.o 258. verso: at lower rightin graphite in later hand: K291 [circled] / Fr 36 / 271

Markings

recto: none; verso: National Gallery / Widener

Watermarks

none? [double-check center of sheet]

Wikidata ID

Q64961158

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