Madame de Pompadour- Wikipedia
5. Madame de Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, the Madame de Pompadour is a recognizable name from the history books. What we don’t often hear is that it was the word of a fortune teller that sealed her fate as mistress to the King. Upon hearing the words of the seer, Jeanne’s mother immediately began to groom her to become the future lover of King Louis XV. Her extensive education included painting, dancing, the arts, and theatre. She grew in charm and grace and was well-liked by all who knew her. Jeanne did eventually marry, but that did not keep her from her destiny of wooing the king.
The future Madame met the king while frequenting the salons at court. When his current mistress died, Jeanne was more than ready to fill her shoes. Her efforts to catch Louis’ eye paid off and she became his official mistress in 1745. During her tenure as mistress, she patronized the arts and theatre and became the best friend of the king. Those at court often gossiped about her but that did not diminish the king’s love for her. Louis even tended to her on her death bed. Following her death in 1764, her image and life have inspired art and theatre productions the world over. This seems fitting for a woman who loved those industries so much.