“BORN TO FILL THIS POSITION”: MADAME DE POMPADOUR AND THE TRADITION OF THE FRENCH ROYAL MISTRESS WITH THE GUEST SCHOLAR CHRISTINE ADAMS

Wednesday, November 16th, 2022, 6PM EST - Virtual session $10

A second session is scheduled on Nov 28 and the concert at the Kennedy Center will take place on Dec 2. All three events are listed in our agenda.

This presentation will focus on how the institution of the powerful French royal mistress was unique in Europe as a recognized extra conjugal social position with the potential for significant political influence. A position that dates back to the 16th century, the royal mistress emerged as the king’s closest confidante and adviser, recognized by courtiers and foreign ambassadors as the surest conduit to the king’s favor. This tradition laid the groundwork for the rise of Madame de Pompadour in the mid-18th century; despite her bourgeois background, she became a skilled power broker at the court of Louis XV at Versailles as well as a valued patron of the arts. This talk will examine Madame de Pompadour’s rise as “official” royal mistress in the context of this striking feature of early modern French political culture.

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION:
https://operalafayette.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F8b00001KIpBXEA1

A second session is scheduled on Nov 28 and the concert at the Kennedy Center will take place on Dec 2. All three events are listed in our agenda.