Marie-Suzanne Giroust

Marie-Suzanne Giroust (9 March 1734 – 31 August 1772), known as Madame Roslin, was a French painter, miniaturist, and pastellist, known for her portraits. She was a member of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. Only a small number of her works have been identified.

Marie-Suzanne Giroust-Roslin with her daughter. Miniature painting on ivory by Peter Adolf Hall 1770. Louvre Museum, Paris.

Biography Marie-Suzanne Giroust Roslin by Alexander Roslin (La Dame au voile, 1768). Marie-Suzanne Giroust was born and lived her whole life in Paris. She was the daughter of Barthélemy Giroust (d. 1741), Jeweller to Le Garde-robe de roi (the King's Wardrobe) and Marie Suzanne Le Roy (d. 1745). Orphaned at an early age, she was raised by relatives.

Giroust was active as an artist from the 1750s. She met the Swedish artist Alexander Roslin at Vien's studio in 1752. She was one of only fifteen women to be accepted as full academicians in the 145-year history of the institution.

Giroust served as a model for La Dame au voile (The Lady with the Veil) (1768), painted by her husband. She also appears in Alexander Roslin's group portrait The Artist and His Wife Marie-Suzanne Giroust Portraying Henrik Wilhelm Peill (1767).

Marie-Suzanne Giroust died of breast cancer in 1772, aged 38.

Notable works Self-Portrait with Her Teacher, Maurice Quentin de La Tour (ca. 1760; private collection) Portrait of Henrik Vilhelm Peill (1766; private collection) Portrait of Jacques Dumont "le Romain" (ca. 1770–71; Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon) Portrait of the Sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (1771; Paris, Louvre) Portrait of the Architect Marie-Joseph Peyre (1730–1785) (1771; Stockholm, Nationalmuseum)

Gallery