Duchesse d'Aiguillon (1770-1818), by Adélaïde Labille-Guiard

Adelaide Labille Guiard (1749-1803) was a French portrait painter of the late 18th century. She was born in Paris and studied under the painter Francois-Elie Vincent. In 1776 she became a member of the Academie de Saint-Luc, a professional organisation for artists. Guiard is known for her portraits of members of the French aristocracy, as well as her self-portraits. She was particularly skilled at capturing the details of clothing and accessories, which were important markers of social status in 18th century France. Guiard's career was interrupted by the French Revolution, which brought an end to aristocratic patronage. She continued to paint, but struggled to find patrons and finally retired from painting in 1800. Today, her work can be found in museums around the world, including the Louvre in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.