Memoirs Of Madame Vigee Lebrun (Hardcover)

by Louise-Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun (Author), Lionel Strachey (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Unfortunately, this is but a reprint of the 1903 abridged, translated version of Vigee Lebrun's Souvenirs de Madame Vigee Le Brun . This first-hand account, written late in life, appeared in three volumes, the first in 1835, the others in 1837. Lebrun was a fine artist primarily known as painter to Marie Antoinette and for having been elected to the French Academy. Thus, her Souvenirs were reprinted, in two volumes, in 1869. The edition under review cuts corners to reprint instead the stilted and even silly version prepared for the English-speaking audience, which came out as one volume bearing more illustrations than this 1989 book. Acquire instead Joseph Baillio's outstanding Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun (Univ. of Washington Pr., 1983).
- Mary Hamel-Schwulst, Goucher Coll., Towson, Md.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
This vivid autobiography recounts the extraordinary life of Elisabeth Vigee Lebrun, one of the finest painters of 18th-century France, who lived during the turbulent era of the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 244 pages
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing, LLC (July 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0548168164
• ISBN-13: 978-0548168165
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,322,473 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Madly entertaining!, December 2, 2002

By	C. URen (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Memoirs of Madame Vigee Lebrun (Hardcover)

This memoir by 18th-century French painter Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun (one of only two women admitted to the French Academy at that time) reads like a romance novel (in the best sense)! Follow Madame Vigee-Lebrun as she creates portraits of Marie Antoinette, endures the tribulations of an arranged marriage, flees to Russia to escape the Revolution's guillotine, and returns to paint portraits of (and gossip about) a new court ruled by Napoleon. It's hard to tell how strictly truthful Madame was, but her exciting life makes for a fascinating read, especially for artistic women.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!, March 2, 2008

By	ANONyMOUSE (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this book on a whim, and am tremendously happy that I did- It has become a touchstone and a favorite. Mme. Vigee Lebrun's voice is incredible- filled with warmth, humor, charm... her optimism and determination in the face of overwhelming adversity is admirable to say the least (the deaths of family, friends, patrons to the Revolution, the loss of her home, possessions... even her income to gambling-addict husband)... I cannot believe that there are not more books or historical entries amassed to such a phenomenal talent, a remarkable woman!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Memoirs Of Madame Vigee Lebrun, August 28, 2008

By	Joan E. Johnson (Annapolis, maryland United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an artist myself, I was fascinated by Vigee Lebrun's very prolific and successful career. This book does not go into her training or working techniques very much, however it does talk about specific paintings and conditions under which she worked. What was very interesting was her description of the French and Russian aristocracy during the years that lead to their death and destruction. I enjoyed reading about them from the point of view of someone who not only worked with those people, but counted them as close friends.