Episode 248 - Madame de Pompadour

Jeanne Antoinette Poisson’s life seemed destined to intertwine with that of the king. Born on December 29, 1721, in Paris, her father, François Poisson, was the food commissioner during the Famine of 1725. However, he was charged with fraud and forced to flee France, leaving Jeanne and her mother behind, homeless, as everything they owned was seized. In 1727, Jeanne was sent to the Ursuline Convent in Poissy.

Two men soon entered their lives alongside her mother, Madame de la Motte: Jean Puvis de Monmartel and Charles François Paul Le Normant de Tournehem. Tournehem became her legal guardian and was widely believed to be her biological father. While she may have received an elite education at the convent, Jeanne was often ill and bored, prompting her return home at just nine years old.

Shortly after, her mother took her to a fortune teller who foretold that the young girl would one day hold the heart of the king. From that moment, she was called "Reinette"—the little queen. Determined to prepare her for a life at court, her mother hired the best teachers to educate her in art, dance, and theater.

In 1740, at the age of 19, Jeanne married Charles Guillaume Le Normant d'Étiolles, the nephew of her guardian, Tournehem, under one condition: their marriage would remain happy and intact—unless the king came calling. Tournehem showered the couple with gifts, including the Château d'Étiolles, and named Charles Guillaume his sole heir, cutting out his own children.

The marriage was a happy one, producing two children. However, tragedy struck in 1744 when their infant son died within months of birth, and their daughter, Alexandrine, passed away before her ninth birthday. Despite these personal losses, Jeanne and her husband hosted lavish salons at the Château d'Étiolles, attracting luminaries such as Voltaire, Fontenelle, and Montesquieu. Her name began circulating beyond the salons and into the royal court.

Eager to attract the attention of Louis XV, Jeanne devised a bold plan. Knowing that the king frequently hunted near their home, she dressed in an elegant blue gown and rode out in a striking pink carriage, crossing his path. A few days later, she reversed the colors—donning a pink dress with a blue carriage—ensuring that she remained unforgettable. Her audacity paid off; the king took notice and soon sent her a whole venison as a gift—a rather regal way of courting a lady.

On February 24, 1745, she was invited to court for a masked ball. Dressed as Diana the Huntress, she floated through the grand hall—straight into the king’s arms. Three days later, at the Hôtel de Ville, Louis XV publicly declared his love for her.

By May 7, her separation from her husband was finalized. When the king wanted something, things moved quickly. However, as a commoner, Jeanne’s presence at court—let alone her relationship with the king—was frowned upon. This was swiftly remedied when Louis XV purchased her a noble title, a château, and a coat of arms, making her the Marquise de Pompadour. On September 14, 1745, she was formally introduced at court—on the arm of the king.

Their intimate relationship lasted from 1745 to 1751, but they remained deeply connected, with Pompadour becoming his most trusted adviser. She became pregnant with the king’s child three times, but each ended in miscarriage, taking a toll on her health. It is believed that this was the reason their physical relationship ended.

Yet, Louis XV ensured she remained close. On October 12, 1752, he granted her the title of duchess, and in 1756, she became Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen—the highest position a woman could hold at court. He gifted her properties and châteaux, including commissioning the Petit Trianon for her, though she would never live to see its completion.

While many royal mistresses came and went, Madame de Pompadour left a lasting imprint on France, particularly in the arts. She was a dedicated patron, supporting artists and developing her own skills—from gemstone engraving to book printing. She played a crucial role in founding France’s first royal porcelain factory and was instrumental in the construction of the École Militaire, Place Louis XV (now Place de la Concorde), and what is today the Élysée Palace, home to the French president.

On April 15, 1764, at just 42 years old, she died of pulmonary congestion at Versailles, with the king by her side. Three days later, a lavish funeral—fit for a queen—was held at Église Notre-Dame de Versailles, where Louis XV was said to be inconsolable. She was later taken to Paris to be buried alongside her mother at the Capucines Convent. Though the convent no longer stands, it is believed that she and her mother remain buried beneath the sidewalk at 3 Rue de la Paix.

Today, she is immortalized in statues and artwork, including a famous pastel portrait by Maurice Quentin de La Tour, displayed at the Louvre, where she is surrounded by books and engravings—many of which she created herself.