OPULENCE, REVOLUTION, AND EMPIRE: ART FROM THE AGE OF MARIE ANTOINETTE TO THE AG

Many of the most prized treasures in French art and architecture emerged from the turmoil of mid-18th to early-19th century France. This lecture series will explore artists patronized by Queen Marie Antoinette, among them her favorite, Louise Vigée-Lebrun. Rebellion against the old order resulted in a revolution in art as well as politics. Enlightenment thinking and the archaeological discovery of antiquity inspired artists like Jacques-Louis David to embody modern revolutionary ideals in the guise of ancient Rome. Lastly, this series will explore how Napoleon used power and wealth to transform Paris into an artistic emblem of his triumphs. Denise Ericksen is a professor of Art History at Cañada College and a celebrated local lecturer.