Date: Fri 19-Mar-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAG

Quick Words:

Pompador

Full Text:

Madame de Pompadour

with 3 cuts

NEW YORK CITY -- On view for the first time in the United States, the

celebrated, full length portrait of "Madame de Pompadour" by the French artist

Francois-Hubert Drouais (1727-1775) will be presented through April 25 at The

Frick Collection.

Regarded as one of the greatest and most popular treasures at the National

Gallery in London, the portrait was the last one painted of the Marquise de

Pompadour, the influential mistress of French King Louis XV. The next in a

critically acclaimed series of single loan exhibition (following the special

display of a landscape by Claude Monet this summer), this presentation

features several complementary paintings by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin

(1699-1779), Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725-1805), and Jean-Marc Nattier

(1685-1766) from the Frick's own holdings. Decorative artworks on view in

conjunction with the portrait include furniture and porcelain of noted French

manufacture.

Further, the presentation of the Drouais portrait will have as a backdrop, in

a loose sense, other French masterpieces of the period that are installed in

galleries throughout the mansion, such as panels by Jean-Honore Fragonard

(1732-1806) and Francois Boucher (1703-1770).

Indeed, with such celebrated works in its holdings, many in connection with

her life and interests, The Frick Collection has long felt the presence of

Madame de Pompadour, has organized this presentation and has authored a

color-illustrated educational brochure.

The painting by Drouais will hang in East Gallery, flanked by two works by

Chardin from "Still Life with Plums," circa 1730 (the only still life at the

Frick), and "Lady with a Bird-Organ," circa 1751. In same room, visitors will

find the whimsical painting by Greuze, "The Wool Winder."

Of particular note is the portrait by Nattier, "Elizabeth, Countess of

Warwick," which will hang nearby and has not been on public view in the

Frick's galleries since 1980.

Beneath the Drouais portrait will be displayed a set of three porcelain

"Pots-Pourris Myrte" with Flemish scenes and landscapes, with a pink ground

and blue and gold overlay. These three porcelain vases were made circa 1762 at

the royal porcelain factory at Sevres and are normally on view on the far side

of the Boucher Room and have seldom been seen so close-up by the public. They

are included in this presentation as evidence of Madame de Pompadour's (and

Louis XV's) great enthusiasm for Sevres porcelain. With her encouragement,

Louis XV assumed financial responsibility for the luxury manufactory in 1759.

On the north wall, across from the portrait "Madame de Pompadour," will hang

The Frick Collection's own Drouais, "The Comte and Chevalier de Choiseul as

Savoyards," signed and dated 1758. The public will also have a closer view of

this painting than is customary. It usually hangs to the left of the grand

staircase that leads to the former private quarters of the Frick family and is

one of the few paintings that are ordinarily located behind stanchions.

Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson entered the world of the French court as Madame de

Pompadour in 1745. From the time she became the mistress of Louis XV, she

wielded considerable influence at Versailles from politics to the arts. The

dedicating Tancrede to her, Voltaire wrote of Madame de Pompadour, "I venture

to thank you publicly for all you have done to help a large number of writers,

artists, and other categories of deserving people."

The portrait was painted in 1764, the last year of her life. She is shown as a

cultivated and industrious woman, working at an embroidery frame, with her dog

at her side. She is surrounded by objects that reflect her taste as a great

patron of the arts and letters -- shelves of books, a mandolin, furniture in

the latest fashion, and a folio of drawings. Acquired by London's National

Gallery in 1977, it was the first French Eighteenth Century female portrait of

this scale to enter the collection.

On Wednesday, March 24 at 5:30 pm, Humphrey Wine, curator of Seventeenth and

Eighteenth Century paintings at the National Gallery, London will discuss

"Madame de Pompadour -- Images of a Mistress." In his slide lecture, Dr Wine

will offer answers to several questions: Who was Madame de Pompadour? What did

she look like? How was she depicted by Drouais and other artists? There is no

charge for the lecture and seating is open.

For information, 212/288-0700. The collection is at 1 East 70th Street, near

Fifth Avenue. The library is around the corner at 10 East 71st Street. Museum

hours are 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 1 to 6 pm, Sundays.

Children under 10 are not admitted. Admission is $7.