Artwork

Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia

Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia, by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, oil, 1807
Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia, by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, oil, 1807

Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1807, the work functions as a formal royal portrait emphasizing the sitters' high status through their attire and setting.

The painting depicts Caroline Bonaparte, identified as the Queen of Naples, seated with her young daughter, Letizia Murat. Created in 1807, the work functions as a formal royal portrait emphasizing the sitters' high status through their attire and setting. The composition highlights specific details of their dress, including embroidery and jewelry, which serve as visual markers of their nobility and connection to the court in Naples.

By portraying the mother and child together, the image represents the continuity of the Bonaparte dynasty and the familial bonds within the imperial family during the height of Napoleon's rule.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil on canvas portrait depicting Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia. It measures 217 cm by 143 cm and was painted in 1807. The surface bears signs of handling consistent with its historical movement between royal residences, and the formal composition balances intimate familial representation with regal symbolism through careful rendering of attire and accessories.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted in 1807 for Caroline Murat, wife of Napoleon's brother, and initially entered the collection of her father-in-law, Napoleon Bonaparte. It remained in the imperial household before being transferred to the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it is now held. The work was created by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun as a commissioned portrait of Caroline Murat and her daughter Letizia, reflecting the Bonaparte family's patronage and the subject's royal connections.

The painting measures 217 cm by 143 cm and is executed in oil on canvas, depicting Caroline Murat alongside her daughter Letizia. It was produced during the Napoleonic era, aligning with the subject's brief reign as Queen of Naples.

The painting is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France, located within the Palace of Versailles in France. It is cataloged under multiple inventory numbers, including MV 4712, INV 3067, and AC 1944. The work is attributed to the French school and specifically to Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, who completed the portrait in 1807.

While the piece depicts Caroline Bonaparte, Queen of Naples, and her daughter Letizia, the provided records confirm its current institutional home at the national museums of Versailles and Trianon without detailing specific past exhibition loans or temporary showings.

Context

The 1807 portrait of Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia demonstrates Vigée Le Brun's mastery of imperial portraiture, blending Neoclassical composition with subtle political symbolism reflective of Bonapartist patronage. Its display at the Palace of Versailles underscores its significance within the broader context of Napoleonic-era art, where familial imagery served both private and propagandistic functions.

Overview

Created in 1807, this oil portrait by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun shows Caroline Murat, sister of Napoleon, together with her young daughter Letizia. The figures stand before a window that opens onto a garden, their elegant attire contrasting with the subdued interior. The work belongs to the collection of the Palace of Versailles and exemplifies the artist’s focus on aristocratic portraiture during the early nineteenth century.

Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter
Portrait of A.P. Mailevskaya with Her Daughter, Nicolas de Courteille

Artist & collection

Portrait of Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun

Artist

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French:; née Vigée; 16 April 1755 – 30 March 1842), also known as Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun or simply Madame Le Brun, was a French painter who mostly specialized in portrait…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Palace of Versailles open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia?

Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia was painted by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun in 1807-01-01.

Where can I see Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia?

Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia?

Caroline Murat with her daughter Letizia is associated with Neoclassicism.