Background
Henriette de Verninac was born in 1780. Her father was Charles-François Delacroix (or Lacroix), minister of Foreign Affairs under the Directory.
Henriette de Verninac was born in 1780. Her father was Charles-François Delacroix (or Lacroix), minister of Foreign Affairs under the Directory.
She is known as the subject of a portrait by Jacques-Louis David. She was the second of four children. Her older brother Charles was a general during the First French Empire.
Her second brother was Henri.
Her youngest brother was the future painter Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863), born eighteen years after her. In 1798 Henriette married Raymond de Verninac-Saint-Maur (1762-1822).
Henriette"s husband died on 23 April 1822. With the trial over her father"s estate not yet settled, Henriette was ruined and forced to work to survive.
She offered her services to the house of education of the Legion of Honour.
She died in Paris in 1827. Delacroix became owner of the painting by David. He kept it for the rest of his life.