Comtesse de Cérès Former title Possibly 1963 - 1992

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun must have used oils to make this portrait of the Comtesse de Cérès, and what strikes me is the contrast between the dark background and the bright, almost luminous skin of the Comtesse. I wonder what it was like to be Vigée Le Brun, a woman artist in a man's world, capturing the likeness of someone from the French court. She has given us a woman who is both poised and intellectual; look at the way the Comtesse holds the quill, poised to write, her gaze direct and self-assured. Vigée Le Brun's handling of light and shadow gives a sense of depth, making the Comtesse almost life-like. It’s like she’s caught in a moment of thought, and we’re invited to share in her contemplation. What a gift from one artist to another, across the ages!