Portrait of Madame de Pompadour 1752

Maurice Quentin de La Tour made this pastel portrait of Madame de Pompadour in eighteenth-century France. It is a small study, just 24 by 32 centimeters, perhaps a fragment of a larger work. This image gives us a glimpse of the French court, a place where appearances were carefully constructed and controlled. Madame de Pompadour was King Louis XV's mistress, but she was also a woman of considerable intelligence and influence. The king’s mistress was an important cultural and political role, which Madame de Pompadour fulfilled admirably. The portrait is striking for its informality. La Tour has captured Pompadour in a moment of apparent repose. It is, however, important to note that this informality is itself a carefully constructed effect. Madame de Pompadour was a powerful woman, and this portrait is a carefully crafted image designed to project an image of beauty and intelligence. Art historians can use letters, diaries, and other documents to learn more about the social and institutional context in which art was made. This helps us understand not only the artwork itself but also the world in which it was created.