Cécile Villeneuve, née Colombet

This excellent miniaturist began her apprenticeship at the age of seventeen in Léon Cogniet’s studio, where she remained until 1844. Afterwards she became a student of François Meuret, and married Jean Pierre Ferdinand Villeneuve in 1848, by whom she had three children. There is no evidence of her taking part in any exhibitions, even though with nearly 2,000 miniatures her work is very extensive. In addition to members of the imperial family she portrayed many prominent contemporaries.