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Giovanni Paisiello

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun French

Not on view

Paisiello (1741–1816), a famous composer and singer, plays the harpsichord with body tensed and eyes raised to the sky in a moment of inspiration—a transformation of mind that fascinated Vigée Le Brun. Visitors to the Salon of 1791 remarked on the nobility of the composition, the correctness of the drawing, and the sitter’s sublime expression. The artist and academician Jacques Louis David expressed his admiration.

Giovanni Paisiello, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French, Paris 1755–1842 Paris), Oil on canvas

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