The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

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 — 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)

Object Number: SL.1.2016.49.1

The Met

European Paintings at The Met

The Met's celebrated European Paintings collection encompasses more than 2,500 works of art from the thirteenth through the early twentieth century.