Madame de Pompadour

Madame de Pompadour was a prominent figure in 18th-century France, known as the official mistress of King Louis XV. Born Jeanne Antoinette Poisson in 1721, she became a powerful political and cultural influencer. Pompadour was not only famous for her beauty but also for her intelligence and patronage of the arts, supporting artists like Fragonard and architects like Soufflot. She played a significant role in shaping French taste and culture during the Enlightenment. Despite her unofficial status, she wielded considerable influence in the royal court and contributed to the development of the French monarchy until her death in 1764.