TODAY'S TWD: MADAME DE POMPADOUR

December 29, 1721:

Madame de Pompadour, mistress of King Louis XV of France is born. (d. 1764)

The Marquise de Pompadour was an accomplished woman, responsible for the development of the manufactory of Sèvres, which became one of the most famous porcelain manufacturers in Europe and which provided skilled jobs to the region. She had a keen interest in literature: she had known Voltaire before her ascendancy, and the writer, essayist, philosopher apparently advised her in her courtly role. She also discreetly endorsed Diderot's Encyclopédie project.

After the War of the Austrian Succession, when economy was the thing the French state needed most, she drew more and more resources into the lavish court. Her influence over Louis increased markedly through the 1750s, to the point where he allowed her considerable leeway in the determination of policy over a whole range of issues, from military matters to foreign affairs.

Mme de Pompadour was a woman of verve and intelligence. She planned buildings like the Place de la Concorde and the Petit Trianon with her brother, the Marquis de Marigny. She employed the stylish marchands-merciers, trendsetting shopkeepers who turned Chinese vases into ewers with gilt-bronze Rococo handles and mounted writing tables with the new Sèvres porcelain plaques. Numerous other artisans, sculptors and portrait painters were employed, among them the court artist Jean-Marc Nattier, François Boucher, Jean-Baptiste Réveillon and François-Hubert Drouais.
[edited from Wikipedia]

Madame de Pompadour has been depicted on screen in the movie universe on many occasions, beginning with Madame Pompadour in 1927, in which she was played by Dorothy Gish.

Other actresses to have played her include:

Anny Ahlers

(Die Marquise von Pompadour, 1931);

Jeanne Boitell,

(Remontons les Champs-Élysées, 1938);

Micheline Presle,

(Si Versailles m'était conté, 1954);

Monique Lepage,

(Le Courrier du roy, 1958);

Elfie Mayerhofer

(Madame Pompadour, 1960);

Noemi Nadelmann

(Madame Pompadour, 1996);

Hélène de Fougerolles

(Jeanne Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, 2006).

For Toobworld, she has been portrayed by:

Katja Flint

. . . Giovane Casanova, Il (2002)

Carole Franck

. . . "Nicolas Le Floch" (2008)

{L'homme au ventre de plomb (#1.1)}

Monique Lepage

. . . "Courrier du roy, Le" (1958)

But it was her portrayal by Sophia Myles in the 'Doctor Who' episode of "The Girl In The Fireplace" that Toobworld Central prefers, since it so wonderfully intertwined the life of her televersion with that of one of the greatest of TV characters......

In the court of Versailles the dignitary of France are running for their lives. Chased by an unseen pursuer the masked entourage tear down the corridors of the palace. In one of the rooms of the court King Louis XV is warning his mistress Madame de Pompadour that they are under attack by inhuman creatures that can’t be stopped.

Madame de Pompadour however is more concerned with the clock on the mantle, which stands with its face cracked. She states that the clock is broken, he is coming. Louis rants in disbelief but she turns to him, and tells him that a man is coming to Versailles, a man who has watched over her her entire life and he will not let her down now. Louis asks exactly who this man is and she explains that he is the only other man apart from him she has ever loved. He glares at her but she stops him before he can speak. She tells him to go to his queen and then turns to the fireplace below the mantle, staring into the flames.

She calls out, asking if the man is there and if he is listening. She explains the clock is broken; it is time. He promised. She calls out to him again. She calls out to the Doctor…
[from "The Doctor Who Reference Guide"]

BCnU!
Toby O'B

PS:

As one of the last in the 2008 series of daily Tiddlywinkydinks, this serves as a preview for two features in 2009's Inner Toob: the daily "As Seen On TV", and the second annual "Who's On First" for January 1st.....