Lemoine began his training in 1771 under J.-B. Decamps (1706-1791) in Rouen and soon specialized in miniature portraits. In 1779 he was drawn to Paris, he found great supports and soon became the favourite artist of famous actresses. After 1813, Lemoine would also successfully take up porcelain painting.
The woman shown here, Marie-Charlotte Le Barbier, born Roland (ca. 1744-1800), had married the painter Jean-Jacques François Le Barbier (1738-1826) in 1766. Her brother was the well-known sculptor Philippe-Laurent Roland. The Lemoine and Le Barbier families were friends in Rouen, allowing one to see the artist’s commentary below the frame as true compliment to the sitter. A few years later, Lemoine portrayed Marie-Charlotte’s husband in turn, once again in profile to the left and en miniature (Fig. 1). This picture was also in the disbanded album of the Le Barbier family. Neil Jeffares confirmed the authenticity of the drawing shown here in spring of 2011.