Thank you netgalley for this arc

This is a historical fiction narrative set against the backdrop of 19th-century France. The novel follows the journey of a young artist, Anne-Louise, as she navigates the complexities of art, love, and society in pursuit of her passion.

One notable aspect of "The Portraitist" is its rich historical detail. The author's research shines through, offering readers an authentic glimpse into the world of art and culture in 1800s France. Anne-Louise's journey from aspiring artist to accomplished portraitist is compelling and the supporting cast adds depth and complexity to the story.

However, while "The Portraitist" boasts strong historical authenticity and well-developed characters, some readers may find the pacing to be slow at times. The plot unfolds leisurely, with moments of introspection and artistic exploration taking precedence over dramatic twists and turns.

As a history major, I'm VERY picky when it comes to historical fiction. However, Dunlap created such an interesting and informative story, and I was so invested in the outcome of this book. Incredibly beautiful and well-done.

Adelaide an aspiring but struggling artist.
Adelaide's. Mother and siblings have all died, so she only has her devoted father left. She makes what we can only imagine is a hasty marriage to Nicholas a jealous, controlling man who does not support her artistic ambitions. After an argument which ends in physical violence Adelaide leaves and sets herself up as a tutor for artist whilst painting erotic art to support herself.
The story takes place during the French revolution, we learn of the hardships of people before they take matters into their own hands. Adelaide has to fight for recognition as women are not viewed favourably as artists.
Although a lot of background about politics in the run up to the revolution is included, I found a lack of detail in adelaide's former life.
Thank you Suzanne NetGalley.

With drama, romance, high stakes and rich detail, I found the Portratist to be a beautiful read that led me into a deep Wikipedia rabbit hole afterwards to learn more. The characters, history, and art world that Dunlap paints (lol) for us kept me engaged throughout the time it took me to read this book. With a new baby at home, it didn't keep me up all night, but I was definitely thinking about it the next morning. A great read.

This book is very interesting and takes you on a journey into the past. It has great characters and is hard to put down. I like stories about doing what you love and never giving up. This story tells about a woman who has to work in a job that is usually done by men. She has to work hard to overcome difficulties and be successful. Adélaïde had a tough time making money and did some risky things to survive. She stayed true to her ideals and fought for what she believed in. This makes her a relatable character for other women. The book is about three important things: women's rights, art, and the French Revolution. The main character, Adelaide, shows how these things work together. She is a strong character who can take care of herself and does things her own way.

dnf.... couldn't get into this at all, but it could be such a great read for others.

- thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC.

I'm not up to snuff when it comes to artists and art history, but I truly appreciate beautiful art and a good historical fiction read. I, like a lot of reviewers, had never heard of Adelaide. Before reading this I did a Google search of her work, and she was quite talented. It is a shame how the struggle of women getting the recognition they deserve (i.e. you must have needed a man's help to succeed) still resonates today, This is a great story about a woman with great talent. I am glad to know about her, I hope more people come to appreciate her work now as well.

With thanks to Net Galley and the Author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. While I wanted to love this book I struggled with aspects of it, ranging from the authors interpretation and decisions to the simple aspect of not particularly wanting to return to the book once started.

This is a historical novel loosely based on the life of French miniaturist painter Adélaïde Labille-Guiard.
Labille-Guiard was one of the first women to become a member of the Académie Royale and the first to set up a studio at the Louvre.
Adélaïde earns her own royal appointment and receives a massive commission from a member of the royal family, but the fall of the Bastille turns her world upside down. Will she prevail?
This was a great read. It reads both as a fictional novel and a biography.

This is an interesting historical fiction piece on a woman portraitist in XVIII century France. While there are many books on famous people, women included - there are not so many on less known people, who struggled all their lives to achieve something. This book is about such a person, a woman, an underdog in the art world during the times when being a woman was not an easy task, nevermind the revolution!
Based on real people and events with some added fiction (there is an author's note on what is real and what is not at the end of the book), it's a skillfully written, well-paced and fairly absorbing read. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in arts and history.

Based on a true story, this is the tale of Adélaïe Labille-Guiard’s fight to take her rightful place in the competitive art world of eighteenth-century Paris. Loved it!

A fascinating look at a real-life but little-known French painter around the time of the French Revolution, Adélaïe Labille-Guiard. She struggles to find her place in male-dominated profession and stands up for herself professionally and personally. Excellent historical fiction about an admirable woman.

This read more like a history book to me and seemed to drag. I struggled to pick it up but continued hoping something more would happen. Some may like it if interested in paintings from that time period.

I really wanted to enjoy this because it is about Elizabeth Vogel-Lebrun’s rival. However, I found Adelaide to be a very unlikable character. She was always jealous of Elizabeth and kept putting down her accomplishments. I also found Adelaide to be very self-centered. The writing was written in a passive voice. It was mostly told and not shown. Therefore, I could not connect with the characters because they seemed flat and stereotypical. Thus, this novel had potential but it was not executed well. It was not an emotional and moving read for me, and I struggled to get through it.

This book is so rich with history! And the writing is so superb! Absolutely recommend! If you like strong woman, this is a must read! If you like art and true stories and 1800 history of France then read this book!

An intriguing story about a French female artist who struggled for recognition against the background of the waning days of Louis XVI’s court.
I’m not an art person, but I enjoyed the historical details of the book.
I liked how the artist posited the story and all the characters included.
Most of the book occurs pre Revolution and I liked that.
It’s a good contribution to historical fiction.

A historical fiction story based on the life of Adélaïe Labille-Guiard in the 18th century Paris. Adélaïe competes with a rival to attend the Royal Academy and to become the official portraitist of the doomed royal family. A well researched story about a female painter in the era that was dominated by men. The story gives us a glimpse of Adélaïe‘s life and the struggles she endured. The author did a great job bringing her to life. A well written historical novel.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I completely adored reading The Portraitist.

What an absolute joy; I though Susanne Dunlap did a wonderful job bringing Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, to life. Obviously historical fiction is still fiction, but you can feel how there are facts that support the story we are told.

I loved getting glimpses into the periphery of the art world of the late 18th century, especially knowing that the revolution was on its way.

This is a book where the main character's thoughts, ideas, personality etc held my heart, especially some of the very realistic contemplations on patriarchy and the effect on Guiard and other women in the field. As I read hI could smell, taste and breathe the Paris art world on the cusp of big changes and loved the experience

The Portraitist is a historical fiction based on the true story of an artist Adelaide in a time where women were not allowed entry into the male dominated world. Adelaide breached the glass ceiling of that era and it is a fascinating story of how she survived.
Liked: I liked Adelaide's story, how she struggled and persevered as an independent woman in an era where men made the rules. The author does an excellent job of portraying the French society of Marie Antoinette and the revolutionary France.
Didn't Like: My issue was why do women have to be rivals of each other all the time? I understand that since a whole lot of literature is not avaliable on Adelaide, the author took creative license but couldn't Madame Le Brun and Adelaide have been friends instead of being rivals. Or they could just have been acquaintances. That's where I struggled.

Adelaie Labille-Guiard is working hard to prove herself not only as an artist but a successful woman artist The novel starts in the mid-1770s, just when American is beginning its journey to independence from England, getting help from France along the way. It continues on through the French Revolution, and ends with Napoleon being on the throne. Having never heard of this artist, it was interesting to read about her, the times she lived in...the book was captivating and one I thoroughly enjoyed. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.