All About Anna Ivanovna Tolstaya by Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun

Title of Artwork: “Anna Ivanovna Tolstaya”

Artwork by Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun

Year Created 1796

Summary of Anna Ivanovna Tolstaya

At the outset of the French Revolution, Vigée Le Brun made a hasty exit from the country. During her decade in exile, she painted Countess Tolstaya in St. Petersburg (1774–1825).

All About Anna Ivanovna Tolstaya

The artist’s portraits have an air of apparent directness and intimacy, as though we’re meeting the sitters on equal ground and striking up a conversation.

The Countess poses nonchalantly, at home in the wilds; she defies convention by donning a spare gown reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman styles.

One of the central tenets of Enlightenment philosophy was the idea that human beings could live more harmoniously with nature if they were liberated from the constraints of society.

Information Citations

En.wikipedia.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/.