(Head of the Cardinal of Rohan) - Louis René Édouard de Rohan (1734-1803) / Bishop of Strasbourg / cardinal-évêque / Fürstbischof Portrait

Madame Pompadour / Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson (1721-1764) und Joseph-Marie Vien (1716-1809) (after):

Published by Paris ca. 1775., 1775

Sehr seltener Kupferstich aus der Serie "Suite d'Estampes gravees par Madame la Marquise de Pompadour d'apres les Pierres gravées de Guay" (ca. 1775). -- Blatt-Maße: ca. 18 x 15,5 cm. Platte: ca. 13 x 10,5 cm. -- leicht fleckig, sonst gut erhalten. || Very rare engraving from the series "Suite d'Estampes gravees par Madame la Marquise de Pompadour d'apres les Pierres gravees de Guay" (c. 1775). -- slightly stained, otherwise in very good condition. || Madame de Pompadour, born Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (1721 1764), was a prominent member of the French court during the 18th century. She served as King Louis XV's official mistress from 1745 to 1751, and maintained her influence as a court favorite until her death. Despite facing political opposition and struggling with poor health, Pompadour took charge of the king's schedule and acted as a valuable aide and advisor. She also secured titles of nobility for herself and her relatives, while cultivating a network of clients and supporters that notably included the Queen, Marie Leszczynska. In the 1750s, Madame de Pompadour's role in the French court evolved from that of the King's mistress to that of his trusted confidante, although she still maintained significant influence over the king, acting often as an advisor as well. She relocated to the ground floor of the Palace in 1751 and focused on patronizing the arts and overseeing new construction projects. In 1756, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the royal porcelain factory at Sèvres and the creation of Place Louis XV (Place de la Concorde). She also convinced the King, with the help of her brother, to build the Petit Trianon. Madame de Pompadour enjoyed nurtureing her intellect and supported the publication of the first two volumes of Diderot and d'Alembert's Encyclopaedia in 1751. In 1753, Louis XV purchased the Hôtel d'Evreux (now the Elysée Palace) for Madame de Pompadour to use as a residence during her visits to Paris. She split her time between the capital and the Palace of Bellevue in Meudon until her death from tuberculosis at the age of 42 in Versailles in 1764. The King was deeply affected by her death. As a patron of the arts, Pompadour supported architecture, decorative arts, and porcelain. She was also a prominent patron of Enlightenment philosophers like Voltaire. Despite criticism from some of her contemporaries who viewed her as a malevolent political influence, modern historians generally view her more positively, highlighting her successes as a champion of French pride and as a woman who rose to power and influence despite not being born into the aristocracy. Some historians argue that Pompadour's critics were motivated by a fear of the social and gender hierarchies she challenged. Sprache: Französisch Gewicht in Gramm: 10. Seller Inventory # 260306

Bibliographic Details

Title: (Head of the Cardinal of Rohan) - Louis René...
Publisher: Paris ca. 1775.
Publication Date: 1775