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Comtesse Du Barry de Cérès

Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun French

1784

Not on view

The countess (1759–1834) is wearing rich complementary colors and folds a letter to which Vigée Le Brun has cleverly affixed her signature.

According to the painter, the sitter had "a charming and sweet face, though you could see something false in her eyes." Indeed, to divert public attention from her liaison with Calonne, controller general of finances, the countess spread rumors that it was Vigée Le Brun who was engaged in the affair.

Comtesse Du Barry de Cérès, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French, Paris 1755–1842 Paris), Oil on canvas — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Comtesse Du Barry de Cérès

Artist: Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French, Paris 1755–1842 Paris)

Date: 1784

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 36 × 29 in. (91.4 × 73.7 cm)
Frame: 46 × 39 1/4 × 4 in. (116.8 × 99.7 × 10.2 cm)

Classification: Paintings

Credit Line: Toledo Museum of Art, Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey (1963.33)

Accession Number: SL.1.2016.49.1

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