François Boucher: The Blonde Odalisque (1751)

 

(Wallraf–Richartz Museum, Cologne, Germany)

A painting by the French artist François Boucher (1703 – 1770). This famous painting shows a reclining woman, in art usually called an odalisque. The painting was made for the French royal court of King Louis XV (1710 – 1774). The depicted woman is usually identified as Marie-Louise O'Murphy (1737-1814). According to the journal of Jean Meunier, Boucher "gave or sold the painting to Monsieur de Vandières (brother of Madame de Pompadour, the official chief mistress of Louis XV) and when the King (Louis XV) saw it, became intrigued if the painter hadn't flattered the model, so he asked to see the youngest girl, and after their meeting, he found her even better than the painting". Marie-Louise became a mistress of Louis and stayed in the Parc-aux-Cerfs (house owned by Louis XV, where his secret mistresses were accommodated) at the Palace of Versailles from 1753 to 1755. Apparently, Marie-Louise tried to replace Madame de Pompadour, and was quickly removed from the court. In November 1755 she was expelled from her home at Parc-aux-Cerfs and married to Comte de Beaufranchet. After the death of her husband, she remarried twice and had several children. Painting from 1751.