| Marie-Jeanne Becu (1743–1793) began life humbly as the daughter of an unmarried
seamstress and probably a handsome, reprimanded monk, but as Madame du Barry,
she became one of the most celebrated beauties of her time. By the age of twenty
she was the mistress of the dissolute Comte du Barry, who, among other endeavors,
supplied the king of France with beautiful young women. Although still grieving
over the death of his mistress, Madame de Pompadour, four years previously Louis XV took Marie-Jeanne
as his mistress in 1768. A hastily arranged marriage to the Comte du Barry’s
brother provided her with the necessary status to enter court life at Versailles
and to become Louis’ official mistress. . . .
- Suzanne E. May, formerly research assistant
Corcoran Gallery of Art |
Text excerpted from A Capital Collection: Masterworks from
the Corcoran Gallery of Art.
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