Madame de Pompadour was one of the most influential women of the XVIII century,right along with Empresses Maria Theresa of Austria and Catherine the Great of Russia.This is illustrated in an anecdote that Emperor Frederick II of Prussia,not known for his love of women,had three of his favorite female dogs named after the three women.Madame de Pompadour was also one of the most painted and portrayed women of her day,her portraits sculptures and objets-d'art grace many museums around the world.She meddled in politics but was more successful when she involved herself in supporting the arts.Her most enduring legacy is the foundation of the Sevres porcelain factory and her support of Francois Boucher,her favorite artist who painted flattering portraits and decorated the walls of her chateaus.Madame de Pompadour was born into a bourgeois Paris family ,her mother was the beautiful Madeleine de La Motte and she was probably fathered by one of her mother's lovers.When she was a little girl a clairvoyant had predicted that she would rise to a great position,almost a Queen.Therefore she was known as Reinette or "Little Queen".She met the King of France at the Yew Tree Ball in 1745 and the King was instantly smitten with the pretty young woman.Soon after she was presented at court,given the Marquisate of Pompadour.The new Marquise moved into a sumptuous apartment at Versailles,which had previously been occupied by Louis XIV's mistress Madame de Montespan,and was right below the King's rooms and connected to them by a secret staircase.She adored the King and longed for children with him but all her pregnancies ended in miscarriages although she had one daughter,Alexandrine,with her husband and the King adored her acted as a stepfather.The little girl had a glittering career in front of her and the greatest nobles in France were vying for her hand.Sadly the little girl died aged only ten and Madame de Pompadour never got over her death although she had to hide her feelings since it was her job to amuse the King and keep him cheerful.She was a frigid woman and never enjoyed the sexual side of the relationship,the King was heard to observe "I have acquired a cold seabird".Therefore the Parc-aux-Cerfs was founded, a place where young nubile women were kept for the pleasure of the King.Their sexual relationship ended completely sometime in the 1751 and it is to her great testament that she remained in her role as a royal mistress until her death fourteen years later without performing that most important duty of the mistress.The Marquise instead became the King's greatest friend and to illustrate her new position she had sculptures made representing her as friendship.She out of all people that surrounded the King was able to tell him the truth and the King greatly valued her opinion,enjoyed her conversation and went to her apartments rigorously every day.She amused him by acting in plays,performing operettas,telling amusing stories and listed carefully to the King's endless retelling of hunting anecdotes.She went out hunting with the King,attended parties and functions,played long card games,received ministers and petitioners and was always kept on her toes by young ladies who wished to replace her.She felt that her life was a perpetual struggle and the life at the vicious court of Versailles took a great toll the Marquise's fragile health.She died a painful death,probably form lung cancer,at age of forty three and the King accorded her the honor allowing her die at the palace of Versailles an honor reserved only for members of the Royal Family.Marie-Antoinette played at the Petit Trianon thanks to the marquise as it was built for her as a present from the King but she died too soon to be able to enjoy it.Today the President of France lives in one of her houses,the beautiful and grand Elysee palace,which the King bought for the Marquise in 1753 as her Paris residence.Her name is synonymous with luxury,beauty and the rococo.The saying "After us the deluge" is ascribed to her but whether she really said it or not it is a good indicator that her age was the height of luxury and excess that couldn't go on much further.
Madame de Pompadour as Diana the Huntress.1746 by Jean Mark Nattier
Madame de Pompadour,1748 Jean Mark Nattier
Madame de Pompadour,1748 Nattier
Madame de Pompadour with a muff,1748 by Nattier
Madame de Pompadour,1749-50 by Boucher
Madame de Pompadour at a clavischord,1750 by Francois Boucher
Madame de Pompadour at a clavischord;det.
Madame de Pompadour at a claviscord,1750 by Boucher
Madame de Pompadour at a claviscord,det.
Madame de Pompadour at her dressing table,1750 by Francois Boucher
Madame de Pompadour at her dressing table;det.
Madame de Pompadour at her dressing table;det.
Madame de Pompadour as Diana,1752 by Jean Marc Nattier
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Madame de Pompadour as a Sultana being served coffee ,1752 by Charles Andre van Loo
Madame de Pompadour as a Sultana being served coffee;det
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Madame de Pompadour as a Sultana at her tapestry,1752 by Charles Andre van Loo
Madame de Pompadour as a Sultana at her tapestry;det.
Portrait of Madame de Pompadour by an artist of the French School,1751-55
Madame de Pompadour,c. 1753 Liotard
Madame de Pompadour,c. 1753 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour and her brother Abel Francois Marquis de Marigny;1754 Roslin
Madame de Pompadour as Hebe,c. 1754 Circle of Charles Andre van Loo
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Madame de Pompadour as La Belle Jardiniere,1754-55 Carle van Loo
Madame de Pompadour,1755 Maurice Quentin de La Tour
Madame de Pompadour;det.
Madame de Pompadour,1756 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour,1756 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour;det.
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Madame de Pompadour,1756 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour in a Garden,1758 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour in a Garden,1758 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour at her Toilette,1758 Francois Boucher
Madame de Pompadour at her Toilette;det. of a bracelet with a cameo of Louis XV
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The cameo of Louis XV that Mme.de Pompadour is wearing on her bracelet
Madame de Pompadour with a dove, 18th century French School
Madame de Pompador standing in a garden,1759 Francois Boucher
Madame de Pompador standing in a garden;det.
Madame de Pompadour as La Belle Jardiniere;c. 1760 Drouais
Madame de Pompadour as a Vestal Virgin,1762 Drouais
Madame de Pompadour at her Tambour Frame;1763-64 Francois Huber Drouais
Madame de Pompadour at her Tambour Frame;det.
Madame de Pompadour with a Muff;1763-64 Drouais
Madame de Pompadour with a Muff;1760 Drouais
The toilet of Venus,1746 by Boucher;Venus is possibly a portrait of Madame de Pomadour
Venus by Boucher,the face of Venus is thought to be of Madame de Pompadour
Apollo revealing his divinity to Issa,Boucher
Apollo reveling his divinity to Issa,det;Issa's face said to be of Madame de Pompadour
Pastel of Madame de Pompadour as a Pilgrim,1745 Louis Vigee
Pastel of Madame de Pompadour as Hebe by Rosalba Carriera
Portrait of Madame de Pompadour after François Boucher , circa 1810
Portrait presumed to be of Madame de Pompadour, French School, 18th century
Pastel drawing of Madame de Pompadour,Bonnet after Boucher
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Study of Madame de Pompadour's face,c. 1752 by Maurice de la Tour
Study of Madame de Pompadour's face,c. 1753 by de la Tour
Study of Madame de Pompadour's face,c. 1753 by de la Tour
Study of Madame de Pompadour's face,c. 1753 by Maurice de la Tour
Madame de Pompadour in profile,c. 1753 Liotard
Madame de Pompadour and her daughter Alexandrine,sketch by Guerin in 1753
Madame de Pompadour and her daughter Alexandrine,c. 1753 Francois Guerin
Pastel of Madame de Pompadour,1754 Boucher
Madame de Pompadour as a Shepherdess,Maurice de la Tour
Performance of Acis et Galatee by Madame de Pompadour,1749 Cochin
Performance of Acis et Galatee by Madame de Pompadour;det
Sketch of Madame de Pompadour,1746 de La Tour
Sketch of Madame de Pompadour,Gilles Demarteau after Boucher
Sketch of Madame de Pompadour,Gilles Demarteau after Boucher
Sketch of Madame de Pompadour by Boucher
Sketch of Madame de Pompadour by Boucher, 1752
Madame de Pompadour and her daughter Alexandrine,,drawing by Francois Guerin
Madame de Pompadour and her daughter Alexandrine,drawing by Francois Guerin
Madame de Pompadour as a Shepherdess,sketch by van Loo
Engraving of Madame de Pompadour by Cochin
Engraving of Madame de Pompadour as a Pilgrim,after Louis Vigee
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Engraving of Madame de Pompadour,after Nattier
Madame de Pompadour as Hebe,photogravure after van Loo
Madame de Pompadour as Europe
Engraving of Madame de Pompadour by Levelle
Madame de Pompadour,after de La Tour
Madame de Pompadour,after de la Tour
Madame de Pompadour by Cattaneo
Madame de Pompadour,Cattaneo
Madame de Pompadour by Bellioz
Madame de Pompadour
Profile of Madame de Pompadour,after Cochin
A miniature of the young Marquise de Pompadour
Madame de Pompadour as Belle Jardiniere,miniature Francois Guerin
Miniature portrait of Madame de Pompadour
Miniature of Madame de Pompadour as a Shepherdess
Madame de Pompadour with a mask,miniature
Self portrait miniature by Madame de Pompadour
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour,after Boucher
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour,after Boucher
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour,after Boucher
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour,after van Loo
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour,after de La Tour
Miniature of Mme.de Pompadour,after de La Tour
Miniature portrait of Madame de Pompadour after Boucher
Miniature of Madame de Pompadour by an Italian Miniaturist,1760s
Bust of Madame de Pompadour,1748-50 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Bust of Madame de Pompadour,1748-50 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Bust of Madame de Pompadour,1748-50 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Bust of Madame de Pompadour,1748-50 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Bust of Madame de Pompadour,1748-50 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Bust of Madame de Pompadour,1748-50 by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
Madame de Pompadour by Falconet
Vertumnus and Pomona,Mme.de Pompadour as Pomona by Lemoyne
Satuettes of Mme.de Pompadour as Friendship and Louis XV as a Roman Emperor,1755 Pigalle
Mme.de Pompadour as Friendship,1755
Louis XV as Roman Emperor by Pigalle
Mme de Pompadour as Europe by Tassaert
Madame de Pompadour as Friendship,1750-53 by Pigalle
Madame de Pompadour as Friendship,1750-53 by Pigalle
Madame de Pompadour as Friendship,1750-53 by Pigalle
Madame de Pompadour as Friendship,1750-53 by Pigalle
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Love and Friendship,Madame de Pompadour as Frienship 1758 by Pigalle
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Love and Friendship,Madame de Pompadour as Frienship 1758 by Pigalle
Love and Friendship,Madame de Pompadour as Frienship 1758 by Pigalle
Love and Friendship,Madame de Pompadour as Frienship 1758 by Pigalle
Love and Friendship,Madame de Pompadour as Frienship 1758 by Pigalle
Madame de Pompadour as a Sphinx,Sevres Porcellain
Madame de Pompadour as a Sphinx,Sevres Porcellain
Madame de Pompadour as a Sphinx,Sevres Porcellain
Terracotta bust of Madame de Pompadour
Bust of Madame de Pompadour by Davidson
Portrait bust, presumed to be Madame de Pompadour, attributed to Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne II
Madame de Pompadour kissing the Austrian envoy Count von Starhemberg
Caricature of Mme.de Pompadour titled "All good things come together"
Louis XV in 1745 by Jean-Marc Nattier
Ball of the Yew trees,1745
Ball of the Yew trees;det.
Mozart being received by Mme.de Pompadour in 1763 by Vincente de Parades,19th c
Alexandrine Le Normant d'Etiolles,daughter of Mme de Pompadour,1750-51 Drouais
Alexandrine Le Normant d'Etiolles,c. 1753 Boucher
Louise Madeleine de La Motte,mother of Madame de Pompadour by Adelaide Labille-Guiard
Fireplace in the apartments of Mme de Pompadour
A bed in Mme.de Pompadour's apartment
A bed in Mme.de Pompadour's apartment
A bed in Mme.de Pompadour's apartment
Madame de Pompadour's chaise percee or close stool
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Potpourri Sevres vase that belonged to Madame de Pompadour
A pair of potpourri Sevres Porcellain vases belonging to Mme de Pompadour
Thank you for bringing all these wonderful pictures together. I must say, however, that "Madame de Pompadour as a Sultana at her tapestry,1752 by Charles Andre van Loo," does not depict her, those are two friends. She was no where near that beautiful. (The coffee server, on the first piece was another person she liked.) The way we know is that both pieces, with this outline, were on opposite ends of a piece of furniture,so they were never intended to depict the same person twice, but to capture her friends,as well.
ReplyDelete"She was no where near that beautiful", what do you mean? Do you really think the marquise wasn`t that beautiful in reality? Please pay attention to the following quotes.
Delete"I found there (Etiolles) one of the prettiest women I have ever seen" - President Henaut
"Nothing about her was angular, all shapes, every movement rounded. She eclipsed all the ladies at court, some of whom were very beautiful". - Dufort de Cheverny
"Coudn`t think of anything more charming" - Prince de Croy
"With the floating grace of her figure and her beautiful hair, she resembled a nymph" - Marquis de Valfont
"The marquise is probably the most beautiful creature that I have met in my life, glittering like a thousand diamonds" - Augustus Henrvey, 3rd earl of Bristol
Her brother Abel said that hardly any painter had caught a glimpse of her blossoming, springlike, always changing.
Hi
ReplyDeleteThanks for that info. So she is depicted only in the painting where she is served coffee and the other painting with the tapestry depicts her friends? Do you know who the women in the tapestry paintings are?
I can't identify them back then, but would guess they are close pre-court friends -- from school or such. But you can see, if you look closely that all three are decidedly different. A painter of such caliber as van Loo would never paint a face ambiguously, or get the details of a face wrong, especially for such a sitter.
ReplyDeleteMy best imagining is that this is supposed to represent the same day, in the same "harem."
ReplyDeleteThanks for your reply. I hope she did keep up with her friends from pre-court days, she sure could've used some real friends. It's so hard to tell which ones are really her as all her portraits are so different.
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