Self-portrait

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to explore art with you today! nn We're going to look at a very special painting called "Self-portrait." Can you guess what a self-portrait is? That's right! It's a painting someone makes of themselves. nn This self-portrait is by an artist named Marie-Guillemine Benoist, and she painted it a long, long time ago in 1786! In this picture, she's sitting in front of a canvas with a paintbrush in her hand. Do you think she looks like an artist? nn Look closely! What do you see around her? nn ---

Wow, you have sharp eyes! She has a palette full of colorful paints and even more brushes ready to go. And look behind her – there's a statue of a head! Artists often studied statues to learn how to draw and paint people. nn Marie-Guillemine Benoist wore a simple white dress with a shiny gold sash for her portrait. It was very elegant back then. Notice all the white, gold, and blue colors in the painting. They make everything look so calm and peaceful, don't you think? nn --- nn This painting is important because it shows us that women can be artists too! Back then, most people thought only men could be painters. But Marie-Guillemine Benoist showed everyone that she had the talent and the passion to be an amazing artist. nn She wants us to see her as a strong and talented woman who loves to paint. And guess what? She became a very famous artist! nn What do you think about her painting? nn --- nn Thank you for exploring this incredible artwork with me today! I hope you had fun learning about Marie-Guillemine Benoist and her "Self-portrait." Remember, anyone can be an artist if they set their minds to it! Now, let's go see what other treasures we can find in the museum!