Auctioning Off: Madame de Pompadour

Being one of the most expensive royal favourites, the reign of Madame de Pompadour was characterised by its classic rococo with its delicate and sumptuous decor. Bright colours, luxurious materials and exquisite porcelain were hallmarks of the period. Yet, with the premature death of Jeanne-Antoinette de Poisson, her belongings were quickly scattered.

These two candelabras with their distinct cockerels were acquired by Madame de Pompadour for her Hôtel d'Évereux (now the Palais d'Élysées). They would be placed near her library there. The date of purchase is set to be 4th August 1755 with the seller being Lazare-Duvaux. They also figure in the inventory made up after her death in 1764.

The porcelain itself is not from Sèvres which she otherwise championed. Instead, it is imported from China which only added to its prestige - and cost. She had originally paid 360 livres per the pair.

As a patron of the Enlightenment philosophers, it was only apt that Madame de Pompadour possessed a substantial personal library. At the time of her death, her library counted about 3500 books - all bound in leather and stamped with her personal coat-of-arms. Her favourite colours for the leather appear to have been red and yellow. 

This set of books contain 17 volumes and was sold by Christies in 2021. The subjects vary over ten different topics.

The little poem beneath is thought to have been written by Madame de Pompadour herself on the occasion of Louis XV's victory at Fontenoy in 1745. The piece is called "La Fontenoy Fanfare" and goes as follows:

Le roi le plus aimable
Est le plus grand ses rois
Il efface par les exploits
Les héros de l'histoire et les dieux de la fable.
Quels sons de leco repette
A la gloire des lis
C'est la même trompette
Q'Henri forma jadis
A chanter la deffaite
De ces fiers ennemis
Au temple de mémoire
Il est d'autre désirs
Pour plus d'une victoire
Son coeur a des soupirs
A Fontenoy la gloire
A Choisy les plaisirs


Tentative translation
The most amiable king

and the greatest of our kings

He effaces by his deeds

The heroes of history and the gods of fables.

What lessons repeated

To the glory of the lilies (perhaps a reference to the royal lilies of France?)

It is the same trumpet

Which Henri once used 

To sound the defeat 

Of these proud enemies 

At the temple of memories

There are other desires

For more than one victory

His heart sighs

At Fontenoy, the glory 

At Choisy, the pleasure

This happens to sum up the character of Louis XV quite well; despite achieving the greatest military victory of his reign in 1745, his eternal melancholy caused him to always seek out distractions - including at Choisy where Madame de Pompadour waited.

Once she ceased sharing a physical relationship with Madame de Pompadour, she attempted to mould herself into the perfect image of virtuous companion. A part of this transformation was a reconciliation with the church - something that had been impossible while committing adultery. This oratory is believed to have belonged to Madame de Pompadour; it dates back to about 1750. The artist is thought to have been Philippe Caffieri.

A letter from the marquise herself to Nicolas René Berryer, Comte de La Ferrière who was residing in Paris when he received this letter in 1757. The letter includes the red seal and the folds on the paper clearly show how the letter was folded when sent.