You'll Never Guess Who This Is...

While having a little me time today at the hair salon, I picked up the September 125th anniversary issue of Vogue* and was thrilled to see a very famous person featured not only as an artistically photographed subject, but also in painted form; meaning like an old master painting! The art history nerd in me did a little happy dance when I saw this extraordinary woman looking more like a painting by eighteenth-century French painter, reminding me instantly of Vigée Le Brun. So dear readers, just who is this famous face?

Self-Portrait, Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (French), 1790 (Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Photographed by Inez and Vinoodh for Vogue

Yep, it's Jennifer Lawrence! This is one of four covers of this famous woman Vogue commissioned for its anniversary issue (including one featuring the painted Jennifer). I LOVE that they asked contemporary artist John Currin to execute a unique representation of this Academy Award winning actress. While I certainly adore the work of longtime celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz and others, this is such a fun way to feature the star in the guise of art history.

Le Brun was a female painter associated with the era surrounding the French Revolution (her close relationship with Marie Antoinette would eventually result in her having to flee France for a time!). Not only was she talented, but she also represented a tiny pool of women who found success as artists and most recently was the focus of an exhibit exclusively devoted to her last year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Check out the September edition of Vogue, always on the vanguard.

*Fans of the Supermodels of the 1980s and 90s will also enjoy seeing in this special issue a "class reunion" of many of the famous faces from those decades (Cindy, Claudia, Linda, and Christy!).