Pauline as Daphne Fleeing from Apollo

1810 · Private collection

mythological

Lefèvre probably painted Napoleon's favourite sister Marie-Pauline (1780-1825) more frequently than any other artist. This painting shows the princess, who had a great zest for life, as a mythological figure. The subject gave the artist the opportunity to display his talents both as a portrait painter and as master of the mythological subject.

About the Artist

Robert Lefèvre

1755 – 1830

French painter. He was the son of a Bayeux draper and originally worked as a law clerk before learning to paint, possibly in the studio of Pierre de Lesseline in Caen. Lefèvre quickly made a reputation for himself and established a sizeable practice in Normandy. About 1784 he went to Paris and entered the studio of Jean-Baptiste Regnault, where he formed a close friendship with the artist and critic Charles-Paul Landon. He made a name with mythological subjects and was soon, rather over-hastily, being compared as a portrait painter to David and Gérard by his contemporaries. After Napoleon came to the throne Lefèvre was entrusted to paint state portraits of the Emperor and his family.

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