Marie-Gabrielle Capet

1761 – 1818

French painter, the daughter of a servant. In 1781, she went to Paris to learn painting under the direction of Adélaide Labille-Guiard. In 1781, her first drawings and pastels were exhibited at the Salon de la Jeunesse. In 1783, her mastery of oil paint allowed her to submit her first self-painted oil painting. From 1785, Marie-Gabrielle's major works were exhibited at the Salon of Youth. From 1791, she exhibited her first miniature at the Salon. When her teacher, Adélaide fell ill, Marie-Gabrielle took care of her. After the French Revolution, the public exhibitions of the Salons were opened to women and Marie-Gabrielle exhibited works several times. In 1814, she painted Hygeia, the Goddess of health, which was sold to Dr. Moreau de la Sarthe. In 1815, she painted her last composition in oil, Portrait of Madame Demetz. In 1818, she retired and died on 1 November 1818, in Paris.

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