Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov (1727–1797) (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas about this Work of Art
- Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun was a self-taught French painter who became a professional artist in her teens. At the age of 23, she was commissioned to paint a portrait of Marie Aintoinette.
- Vigée Le Brun is commonly associated with rococo art. Rococo was a French style of the 18th century. This style of painting featured feathery, less polished brushstrokes and a mostly pastel color palette. Rococo art is often associated with the aristocracy, or ruling social class.
- The man depicted in this painting was a Russian statesman and patron. He started out as a page (a youth attendant to a person of rank) of the Russian royal court. Later he became Queen Elizabeth of Russia’s lover. Shuvalov was an intellectual who promoted new enlightenment ideals in art and science.
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In 1783 Vigée Le Brun joined the French Academy, which permitted only four female members at any given time. As the preferred portraitist of Queen Marie Antoinette, Vigée Le Brun gained access to institutions that excluded most women during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Her professional association with the royal family resulted in her exile following the French Revolution of 1789. However, this connection allowed for her continued success abroad. While in Russia at the court of Catherine the Great, the artist completed this portrait of Ivan Shuvalov, founder of the Russian Academy of Arts.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read an essay about Vigée Le Brun.
- Read an article about the French Academy of Art.
- Read an article about Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov.
Resources for Students
- Watch a video about Vigée Le Brun.
- Watch a video about rococo art.
- View more portraits by this artist.
Images
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Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov (1727–1797)
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Ivan Ivanovich Shuvalov