Élisabeth Le Brun, the renown court painter to Marie Antoinette, was forced to flee into exile for 12 years during the French Revolution, while her husband remained in Paris to become a curator of Napoleon’s Museum, formerly the Louvre. Elizabeth Gardner, an American artist from New Hampshire, also painted in Paris, but 80 years after Le Brun and, after a 17-year engagement, married the leading French academic painter in Paris, William Bouguereau. Explore how each of their artistic lives reflected the historic events of their time. Led by Martha Chiarchiaro, owner of Seeing History, who has brought history to life through the art of the times for more than 30 years. She received her Masters’ degree in the History of Art from Williams College and provides a variety of art history presentations at the Worcester Art Museum, the Worcester Institute for Senior Education (WISE), libraries, senior centers, and garden clubs.

Presented in partnership with Tewksbury Public Library and other libraries from across MA and NH.