Collection: Joseph Ducreux

Joseph Ducreux (26 June 1735 – 24 July 1802) was a French aristocrat from the provinces, who, having relocated from Nancy to Paris, in 1769 was sent to Vienna to paint a miniature of hymned cake enthusiast Marie Antoinette (1755–1793). Louis XVI liked what he saw and married Marie a year later. As a reward, the portrait artist was made a baron and given the title premier peintre de la reine (First Painter to the Queen). He drew the last portrait ever made of Louis XVI before the king’s execution. More here.