Madame de Pompadour

Women have always had a profound effect on history throughout the ages. Madame de Pompadour is one female whose contributions and authority in France have distinguished her as a historical figure.

On December 30, 1721 Jean-Antoinette Poisson, the future Marqui de Pompadour was born to Louise Madeleine de la Motte and Francois Poisson of the bourgeois class. Francois was a steward to the Paris brothers who were responsible for running the economy of France. Jean-Antoinette's childhood was not always the easiest. Her father was exiled from France for charges of embezzlement when she was very young, leaving her mother to raise two children alone. She was also a very frail child who always had throat and nose problems. At age seven, Jean-Antoinette was sent to the Ursuline convent at Poissy where she was well educated and developed her love for the arts. Perhaps the most significant point in Jean-Antoinette Poisson's young life came from a prophecy by fortune teller Mme. Lebon. At age nine, this fortune teller told her that one day she would reign over a king's heart. Even when she married her husband Charles-Guillaume le Normant d'Etioles, whom she loved deeply, she told him in fun that she would never leave him, except, of course, for the king.

Jean-Antoinette eventually began visiting the court of King Louis XV at Versailles. After their first meeting the king instantly admired her beauty and skill. He enjoyed watching her perform in plays at her own theater built in her Etiolles estate. She was installed at court as Louis the fifteenth's official favorite under the title of Marquis de Pompadour in 1744.

Madame de Pompadour had a profound effect over the private life of the court. Before she arrived at the court, life had been quite boring for King Louis XV. She organized suppers and brought many performances to the theater. She brought back the sense of intimacy and extravagance that the French court had lost. She also directed the artists of her time. She commissioned such artists as the writer Voltaire and the painter Francois Boucher. Madame de Pompadour also encouraged the manufacture of porcelain and decorated the palace of Versailles in the Rococo manner.

Madame de Pompadour did not stay mistress to the king for long, in fact she stayed the king's lover for only five years. Nevertheless, she stayed a true and close friend to Louis XV until her death. To maintain her status, the marquise took a part in the politics of France. She made and unmade generals during the Seven Yearís War and helped to bring out the famous change of alliances. She wanted peace within France so it could be a strong world power. Although she was very ambitious, her life was still filled with frustrations, bitterness, and unhappiness. Throughout her life in the court, Madame de Pompadour was many times looked down upon by the French people. Coming out of the bourgeois class, this mistress and friend of the king was taking a role usually reserved for the aristocrats. Others saw her as a woman trying to seize power.

In 1764, the always fragile Marquis de Pompadour came down with a violent headache. She was diagnosed as having congestion of the lungs. Two months after her diagnosis, the beloved friend of the king died at the age of 46. Madame Pompadour is proof that women had a role in history. Although she is not always portrayed in a pleasant light, Madame de Pompadour is a part of history because of her great qualities, talents, and influence.

Annotated Bibliography

Bernier, Olivier. Louis the Beloved: The Life of Louis XV. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., 1984.

Focusing more on the personality and achievements of King Louis XV, this book takes a look at the life and reign of the long-maligned king. It sheds historical truth, and shows a great deal of accurate objective research. A portion of the book is devoted to Mme de Pompadour's role in the king's life. It shows the amount of influence this lady had, even though much of her power was not overt like those individuals with actual titles. The book is useful in showing the type and amount of power women could actually attain in the eighteenth century.

Cheek, Pamela. "Prostitutes of 'political institution'." Eighteenth Century Studies 28, no.2 (Winter 94/95): 193-120.)

This article discusses the association between writing and prostitution in eighteenth century France. Discussed is the rumor of the Marquise de Pompadour suggesting that the police collect records of this demoralizing behavior. This shows the authority that this woman had on the politics of the society.

Ducros, Louis. French Society in the Enlightenment Century. New York, N.Y.: Lenox Hill Pub., 1971.

This book views French Eighteenth Century Society as important. It gives a sense of what took place during this time period. There is a small section on Madame de Pompadour because of the way she dazzled the court with her various talents. Her performances at her theater in Etioles are highlighted. This shows that women in society were recognized not only for their beauty but also for their talent.

Gaxotte, Pierre. Louis the Fifteenth and His Times. Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lipincott Co., 1934.

The author of this book makes it clear that he is interested in dispelling the negative accounts of King Louis XV. Pierre Gaxotte points out that the king has often been wholly judged on the testimony of his enemies. Madame de Pompadour is mentioned throughout latter part of the text. She is described as the secretary of state for pleasure because of her control of court affairs. The text is useful in describing how this woman actually influenced the culture in France.

Gerten, Carol L. "Francois Boucher: Marquise de Pompadour." March 03, 1998. <http://www.hol.gr/cjackson/boucher/p-boucher11.htm ( March 20, 1998).

This website posts a picture of the Marquise de Pompadour by her favorite artist, Francois Boucher. It is useful in giving a clear idea of what this historical figure looked and to what the culture of the time looked like.

Gimelson, Deborah. "French Rococo Decorative Arts." Antiques, March 1990, 698-705.

The article reviews the exhibition "Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour: A Love Affair with Style," an art exhibit focused on rococo style that the king and his mistress helped to create. Madame de Pompadour is also mentioned as influencing the porcelain during the time period. A painting of her is included in the article. This article is useful in displaying Pompadourís taste of style and influence over the kingís tastes.

Gooch, G.P. Louis XV: The Monarchy in Decline. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1966.

The larger portion of this book is devoted to King Louis XV as an insufficient ruler. It is not another narrative of his reign, but looks at how the enlightened autocrat shaped the lives of his countrymen. Madame de Pompadour, the mistress and friend of the king, is briefly identified but sheds little detail on her role in history.

Kaiser, Thomas E. "Madame de Pompadour and the theaters of power," French Historical Studies 19, no. 4 (Fall 1996): 1025-1045.

This article highlights the importance of reputation by tracing the political career of Mme Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson. It provides personal background on Pompadour and her influence on the theaters, public, and royalty. It also provides the public's conception of her supposed seizure of power. This article is useful in looking at the publicís sometimes negative view of this historical lady.

Kenneth, Lee. The French Armies in the Seven Yearsí War. Durham, N.C.: Duke Univ. Press, 1967.

The broader scope of this book is on the role of the French in the Seven Yearsí War. However, the author takes a brief but critical look at Madame de Pompadour and her role in politics. He demonstrates how the people saw her as a minister more powerful than the king. The article has an impact on women and society and is useful because it shows a female in a powerful role.

Levron, Jacques. Pompadour. New York, N.Y.: St. Martinís Press, 1961.

This book presents a clear narrative on the life of Madame de Pompadour. It is divided into two parts, her life as the kingís mistress and her involvement in politics. The information presented centers around how important this woman was to the society of King Louis XV. It is useful in the way it conveys actual events by presenting letters relevant to her life story.

Lough, John. An Introduction to Eighteenth Century France. New York, N.Y.: David McKay Co., 1990.

Louis XV and Louis XVI are the main subjects of this book. Madame de Pompadour is described as having an important role in foreign affairs, like the negotiations that led up to the reversal of alliances in 1756. She made and unmade ministers, and in times of war, even generals. She is blamed by many of the French people for the extravagance of the court and disasters of the Seven Yearsí War.

Maza, Sarah. Private Lives and Public Affairs. Berkely and Los Angelos, CA: Univ. of California Press, 1993.

This bookís larger study is the public impact of the tales of private lives. Stories of parties to highly publicized events gripped the attention of the reading public in France. Madame de Pompadourís early life and influence are two topics included in the book. The authorís discussion is important to the women of society because of the growing public role of women. Pompadour began her career as a public woman through her life as a mistress.

Mitford, Nancy. Madame de Pompadour. New York, N.Y.: Random House, 1953.

The author shows a comprehensive depiction of Madame de Pompadourís life from birth to death. The theme of the book looks at the important contributions that the author sees as significant to history. It is useful and simply written so that anyone could understand.

No name. "Encarta: Madame de Pompadour." February 15, 1998. <http://www.chateauversailles.com/en/230.asp ( 20 March 1998).

This site provides a brief look at the woman behind Louis the fifteenthís reign. Her early life and life at court are presented with a section on Pompadour as an art patron. The information provided here is good for a concise look at the woman.

No name. "History: People in European History." Unknown.<http://encarta.msn.com/index/concise/0vol1E/03a09000.asp.htm (March 20, 1998).

Very abridged synopsis of the life of Madame de Pompadour. This site is only useful in providing a minimal amount of information on this historical lady.

No name. "Chateau de Versailles." July 8, 1997. <http://www.w3i.com/eng/cities/versailles/CHVEBS.HTM (March 22, 1998).

This site gives an overview of the history and present condition of the palace of Versailles in France. Versailles is important to Madame de Pompadour because she spent twenty years of her life there. Versailles was the palace she controlled the affairs of.

No name. "Portrait of Madame de Pompadour." December 2, 1997.<http://www.bridgeman.co.uk/WallColl.html (March 22, 1998).

Various portraits of the painter, Francois Boucher, are presented on this page including one of Madame de Pompadour. Madame de Pompadourís favorite painter was Boucher. His art is important in showing the rococo style of art.

No name. "The Golden Age of Big Hair." Civilization, Sep/Oct 95, 29.

This is a fun article on the history of tall hairstyles for ladies. The tall hairstyle trend was set by Madame de Pompadour in 18^th century France. The pompadour hairstyle is when a 3 foot wire frame tops the head, with a tower of such things as vegetables, miniature glass animals, and toy ships. This article is only important in giving one a sense of culture and lifestyle for ladies at the time.

Posner, Donald. "Mme. de Pompadour as a patron of the visual arts." Art Bulletin 24, no.1 (March 1990): 74-106.
This extensive article examines the role played by Madame de Pompadour in the promotion of the arts in France during the years around 1750, when she was mistress and friend of Louis XV. Apparently, works of art were designed to allude to Pompadour's talents, virtues, and status. Also discusses her limitations in he involvement in arts administration and promotion.

Toth, Karl. Woman & Rococo in France. London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1931.
A large portion of the book is devoted to the many women who helped to build and spread rococo culture in France. There are illustrations of famous rococo art pieces. One chapter of this book is devoted to Madame de Pompadour, whose perseverance helped her to rise. This is a good book for women's studies because it shows women as instrumental in rococo culture. It does this by providing artwork and literature of women during the time period.

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