Art Funded by you

Portrait bust of Madame Du Barry

Etienne Pierre Adrien Gois, 1770

The Comtesse du Barry (1743-1793) started working in a milliner's shop at the age of sixteen, but became the mistress of Louis XV from 1768 until his death in 1774. She was condemned to death and guillotined in 1793. Louis XV commissioned two marble portrait busts of himself from Gois and this portrait bust of his mistress was probably a private commission or a pendant to a bust of Louis. While at Court, Madame du Barry redecorated her apartment at Versailles in the latest fashionable taste. Her building work at Louveciennes, her encouragement of the Neo-Classical style and her individual commissions to many artists and manufacturers made her an important patron of the arts.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Portrait bust of Madame Du Barry, 1770

Date supported

1992

Medium and material

Marble

Dimensions

54 cm

Grant

10000

Total cost

45000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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