Madame de Pompadour (1721

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Biography

Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, commonly known as Madame de Pompadour, was a member of the French court. She was the official chief mistress of King Louis XV from 1745 to 1751, and remained influential as court favourite until her death.

In Their Own Words (1)

After us, the deluge. I care not what happens when I am dead and gone.

Said while the French financial system was on the verge of collapse, as quoted in Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) by E. Cobham Brewer. Brewer states that this was sometimes attributed to the Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, but that he was probably simply quoting Madame de Pompadour. , 1898

Timeline

The story of Madame de Pompadour, told in moments.

1721 Birth

Born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson in Paris. Her mother was rumored to be the mistress of a wealthy tax collector who paid for the girl's education. A fortune-teller told her mother she'd one day be the king's mistress. The family took it seriously.

A fortune-teller predicting you'd be the king's mistress. Did your family take it seriously? Was your education an investment in that prophecy?

1745 Event

Meets Louis XV at a masked ball at Versailles. She's 23, married, and beautiful. Within months she's installed at court as the official royal mistress. The title comes with apartments at Versailles, a coat of arms, and the right to sit on a stool in the queen's presence.

A masked ball at Versailles. Did you choose him, or did he choose you? Apartments at Versailles and the right to sit on a stool. Was the formality absurd?

1756 Life

Engineers the Diplomatic Revolution. France allies with its old enemy Austria against Prussia. She personally corresponds with Empress Maria Theresa. She also founds the Sevres porcelain factory, protects Voltaire, and commissions Boucher to paint her six times.

Allying France with Austria, corresponding with Empress Maria Theresa. Was diplomacy your art? Founding Sevres porcelain and protecting Voltaire. Were culture and politics the same thing?

1764 Death

Dies of tuberculosis at Versailles at 42. Louis XV watches the funeral cortege from a balcony in the rain. 'The marquise will have bad weather for her journey,' he says. He's crying.

Louis watching your funeral in the rain and crying. Was that the love you wanted? 'Bad weather for her journey.' Were those his real words?

Artifacts (4)

Madame de Pompadour (1721–1764)

Jean-Baptiste Pigalle

1748–51 · White marble (Sost, the French Pyrenees)

The Met View

Portrait of Madame de Pompadour (Madame Le Normant d'Estiolles)

Augustin de Saint-Aubin|Charles Nicolas Cochin II

1764 · Etching; second state of three (Bocher)

The Met View

Portrait of Madame de Pompadour

Charles Nicolas Cochin II|Charles Joseph Natoire

ca. 1745 · Etching

The Met View

Boucher présenté à Madame de Pompadour (Boucher presented to Madame de Pompadour), from "Le Monde Illustré"

Madame de Pompadour|François Boucher|Henry Linton|Edouard Gérard

June 29, 1861 · Wood engraving

The Met View

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