Pastel Rivalry is an immersive exploration of the captivating portraits of one of the most eminent artists of the 18th century, Adélaïde Labille-Guiard. As the great rival of Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Labille-Guiard left her indelible mark on the art world with her exceptional talent through works created in pastel.
The digital exhibition features six of his most iconic portraits, highlighting his skill at capturing the personality and beauty of his models. Among these works, we find “Autoportrait avec deux élèves”, “Élisabeth de France”, “Marie-Adélaïde de France, dite Madame Adélaïde”, “L’heureuse surprise”, “Portrait de madame la comtesse de Lameth” and “Portrait de femme”.
Each portrait reveals Labille-Guiard’s technical mastery and artistic sensitivity, through rich colors and subtle details that bring his subjects to life. His masterful use of pastel adds a dimension of softness and light to each composition, capturing the very essence of the era and the people depicted.