@nitazitaproject tells the story of two legendary New Orleans dancers, following their rise to stardom in the 1920s, their eventual retirement in New Orleans, and the thousands of costumes they created.⁠
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Following the documentary`s New Orleans premiere in NOMA’s Lapis Center for the Arts, filmmakers @missmarcidarling and Sharon Gillen will speak about the film with Burlesque performer @trixienola.⁠
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Guests are also invited to view a selection of Nita`s and Zita`s costumes from 5:00 to 5:30 pm.⁠
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Free and open to the public. Click the link in our bio for more information about the program.⁠ ...

The painting ➡️ the artist

Hapsburg Empress Maria Theresa was anxious to see her daughter Marie Antoinette formally portrayed as Queen of France, but few artists met her rigid standards.

The exception was Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, who was born #OnThisDay in 1755.

The daughter of a portraitist and wife of a prominent art dealer, #VigéeLeBrun initially painted informal portraits of the Queen of France and her children.

Given the opportunity to paint state portraits, Vigée Le Brun astutely endowed Marie Antoinette with the formal dignity and regal hauteur that would appeal to her imperial parent.

The magnificent state portrait in the first slide pleased both the Empress and the Queen, and Vigée Le Brun was awarded membership in the Académie Royale and continuing royal patronage.

As much as a royal portrait, the 19th-century painting by Alexis Joseph Pérignon in the second slide tells a specific, highly orchestrated story of the queen, graciously assisting her official portraitist by picking up the artist’s materials, which had fallen to the ground.

Painted during the Second French Empire, Pérignon’s work is indicative of its time, when Napoleon III had re-established monarchy in France.
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🎨: Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, “Portrait of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France,” ca. 1788. Oil on canvas. Museum purchase: Women’s Volunteer Committee and Carrie Heiderich Fund, 85.90.
🎨: Alexis-Joseph Pérignon, “Madame Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun Painting the Portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette,” 1859. Oil on canvas. Gift of Joseph Bailliol, 2010.150.
📍: Second floor, Armande Billion Gallery ...