On this week’s newest episode of Paris History Avec a Hemingway on La Vie Creative podcast we visit the unknown life of artist Marie Guillemine de Laville-Leroux Benoist. Born December 18, 1768 in Paris into a political family which would help her enter into one of the most prestigious ateliers in Paris.
At just 13 years old she began training with Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun who was the First Painter to the Queen, Marie Antoinette. Her talent was noticed early on and in 1784 she exhibited for the first time at the Salon a painting of her father. The 18th century and a few after that wasn’t that kind to female painters but under the lead of Vigee Le Brun she was able to traverse the art world and get noticed by a few of the biggest names.
When Vigee Le Brun decided to move her studio, Marie was asked by Jacques Louis David to join his atelier. The king of the Neoclassical movement was happy to take women in as a way to get back at king Louis XVI who forbade women artists to train in the Louvre. At the time David lived and had his studio in the SE corner of the Sully wing. Most women were relegated to only painting flowers, landscapes and gentle girly themes, but David actually suggested she try her hand at historic themes.
In 1800 she created a painting that would change the landscape of art at the time. After a visit to her brother-in-law's home she met the beautiful Madeleine and decided to paint a subject that was rarely seen in art at the time. Madeleine was a beautiful black woman that came from Guadalupe and was hired as their servant when Marie met her. Using the classic pose that she learned under David she placed Madeleine on a winged chair and draped her in white fabric in the Empire style and suddenly transformed how black skin was depicted in art. Up until then, the only time you would find black models in paintings is as the servant tending to a white man or woman.. Slavery was abolished February 4, 1794 and her painting is a bit of an allegory as much as it was Marie making a statement.
The model was unknown until a few years ago before an exhibit at the Orsay unveiled her name and made the painting come to life. On June 27, 1818 the painting was purchased by the Director of the Maison du Roi along with three of her other paintings. Under Louis XVIII the painting was sent to the Louvre where you can still find her today. On the second floor of the Sully wing in salle 935 alongside other paintings from David and his students. I wish she was somewhere where more people could discover her but until that day, be sure to search for her when you visit the Louvre or ask me to take you.
The painting got the attention of everyone including Napoleon who commissioned her for a portrait of the Emperor and members of his family. Sadly in 1814 she hung up her paintbrushes as her notoriety became too much for her political husband. She sold off most of her paintings and unfortunately very few remain. Of the four purchased in 1818, only one remains in the Louvre.
Marie died on October 8, 1826 at 57 years old and while few may not know her name, Madeleine hangs on the walls of the most wonderful place in the world to remind us.
