Marie-Josèphe Caron facts for kids
Marie-Josèphe Caron, known in Spanish as Doña María Josefa Carrón (born 13 January 1725; died 21 December 1784), was a talented French artist. She spent a significant part of her life working in Spain.
Early Life and Family
Marie-Josèphe Caron was born in Paris, France. She was one of five sisters. Her father, André-Charles Caron, was a watchmaker. Her famous brother was Pierre Beaumarchais, a well-known playwright. She also had a cousin who was an artist, Suzanne Caron.
In 1748, Marie-Josèphe married Louis Guillebert. He was a master builder, or maître maçon. Soon after their marriage, Louis was chosen to be an architect for the King of Spain. This led the couple to move and settle in Madrid, Spain.
Her younger sister, Marie-Louise (called Lisette), also moved with them. Lisette had a difficult situation with a Spanish official named José Clavijo y Fajardo. This event inspired her brother, Pierre Beaumarchais, to travel to Spain in 1764 to help her. This story later became the basis for the play Clavigo by the famous writer Goethe.
Life and Art in Spain
While living in Madrid, Marie-Josèphe Caron opened her own fashion shop. Sadly, her husband became ill and passed away during this time.
In 1770, Marie-Josèphe decided to pursue her passion for art. She applied to the Académie de peinture et de sculpture (Academy of Painting and Sculpture) in Marseille, France. She sent another application later that year. In early 1771, the Academy responded positively. They asked her to submit one of her artworks as part of her application.
She wrote to the Academy from Toulon in May 1771 to thank them. She later apologized for a delay in sending her artwork. She explained that her husband's death and her own serious illness had caused the delay. By December, she had recovered enough to send her work. She sent a portrait of a lieutenant-colonel from Marseille, sending it all the way from Madrid.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1772, Marie-Josèphe Caron returned to Paris. She did not have much money and relied on her brother's financial support. She lived in Paris until her death in 1784. Some Spanish records incorrectly state she died in Madrid much later.
One of her notable artworks is a pastel portrait of the architect Diego de Villanueva. This portrait was created in 1761. It is now part of the collection at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: María Josefa Carón para niños
