Showing posts with label Madame de Genlis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madame de Genlis. Show all posts

Madame du Barry was Enchanting, Unpowdered and Looked Extremely Well at Night

Louise-Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. Portrait of Madame Du Barry. 1781, oil on panel. Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Comparing notes on Madame du Barry according to a French writer, a young officer in the light cavalry, and a Belgian Prince.


About Her: Princesse de Lamballe

"Mme. de Lamballe was extremely pretty, and though her figure was devoid of elegance, and she had hideous hands, which, by their size, contrasted strangely with the delicacy of her features, she was charming without regular beauty; her temper was gentle, obliging, equable and cheerful but she was absolutely devoid of wit; her vivacity, sprightliness, and childlike air very agreeably concealed her want of brains; she had never had an opinion of her own, but in conversation she always adopted the views of the person who was supposed to be the cleverest."
Mme de Genlis