Born in Grasse, France, Marguerite Gérard began her artistic training in the mid-1770s under the tutelage of her brother-in-law, the celebrated painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Living in his household from the age of 14, she developed a sophisticated command of painting, drawing, and printmaking, eventually establishing herself as a professional artist in her own right.

Gérard is best known for her detailed genre paintings, which often depicted domestic life, as well as her portraiture and miniatures. Her technical skill allowed her to produce a substantial body of work, including over 300 genre paintings and 80 portraits. Her work was highly regarded by her contemporaries, evidenced by the acquisition of her painting The Clemency of Napoleon by Napoleon in 1808.

Her historical significance continues to be recognized by major institutions, as demonstrated by the recent acquisition of a collaborative work by Gérard and Fragonard by the Getty Center. Her legacy remains a subject of study for her contributions to the Rococo movement and her successful career as a female artist in 18th-century France.