Adrienne

Marthe's first commissioned work as an artist is to create artworks of Adrienne Lafayette. The chateau that she lives in was once home to the Lafayettes, but in the late 1930s, the French government has once again turned against Lafayette's seemingly radical beliefs. The baroness asks Marthe to portray Adrienne in a way that shows that the chateau is an honorable Catholic institution without a hint of rebellion (29). Upon first glance, Adrienne seems like the perfect symbol of piety, duty, and motherhood. However, the majority of the novel provides a deeper look into Adrienne's life and the ways in which she helped her husband spark and win two revolutions.

Lafayette

Lafayette is one of the most well-known Frenchmen of the late 1700s. He defied the French king to aid the American colonists in their fight against Britain (104). Later, he helped spark the French Revolution (261). He stood...