LEBRUN, MARIE 'ELISABETH VIntE 11755-1842). A French portrait painter. She was born in Paris. April 16, 1755. When fifteen years of age she had established herself as a por trait. painter. In 1775 she was elected member of the Academy of Saint Luke. at Rome. and in 17S:I a mends.r of the French Academy. In I 1776 she contracted an unfortunate marriage with Lebrun, a spendthrift and a man much el ler than herself. She was appointed painter in ordinary to Marie Antoinette, and in 1779 vom it enced the series of thirty portraits of the Owen. She beeame a great favorite of society. At the time of the Revolution she fled to Italy. visiting Bologna, Florence, Rome. Naples. and then went to Saint where she re mained five years. She was everywhere received with high honor, admitted to membership of the principal aemb-Inies, and abundantly employed. After an absence of twelve years she returned 14) Paris, and in 1802 she visited England, re maining three years. She also visited Holland,
Belgium, and Switzerland, making her home alternately in Paris and Louveciennes. She died in Paris, at the age of ei!!lity-seven, March 30, 1842.
Aladame Lebrun's figures are well posed. and although the composition is sometimes conven tional, there is always elegance and refinement in her paintings. Iler technique is most careful in finish, her drawing is good, and her color is pleasing, reminding of Grenze. Among the best of her portraits are those of Madame Lebrun and her daughter; .Jean Paesiello; the painter Hubert Robert; Joseph Vernet (Louvre) ; Ma dame Mo16-Raymond; Prince of Wales (George IV.) ; Lord Tiyron; Marie Antoinette and her three children (Versailles Museum). Consult Madame Lebrun's. ,c'ourcnirs (lc nna rie ( Paris, 1869),