naïf

naïf – n - A naive or inexperienced person.

Today's Exquisite entry shows a self-portrait of Elizabeth Louise Vigee-Lebrun (1755-1842) and her daughter Julie. This is yet another of Jack's favorites. In fact, I once saw a good reproduction priced ridiculously low at $1500. I had my wallet out and was halfway through the gallery door when my wife told me she was going to pack up the kids and go home to mother if I bought it. Maybe someday. . .

She was about 34 when she painted this. I'm happy to report that she and her husband fled France as soon as Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested, and thus lived to a ripe old age. Good for her and good for everybody who loves art, people like - oh, just to pull an example out of my hat - me.

Note: She's even more beautiful in her early portraits, but this is my favorite. The mother and daughter theme appeals to me. Perhaps I'll use a similar example by Frederick Leighton in the near future.