Angélique Kidjo Instagram – Visiting the magnificent “Joconde Noire” at the @museelouvre this morning! “Portrait of a Black Woman.” 1800 Marie-Guilhelmine BENOIST, née DE LAVILLE-LEROULX Paris, 1768 – Paris, 1826 Oil on canvas The painter, a gifted pupil of J.-L. David, took a bold stance with this dark-skinned figure – an unusual, rarely taught exercise that was held in low regard. The grave expression, calm pose and bare breast give the anonymous model the nobility of an allegory – perhaps of slavery, recently abolished.