madame de pompadour's dog

Acquired by Henry Walters, 1895 (CC) thewalters.org

The artist: Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, circa 1755.  If that name sounds familiar to Museum friends with a taste for French history, that's because you know Jeanne best as the Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764).  This engraving of her dog - possibly Bébé - was the latest stage in an art collective.  As explained here at the Walters' source page, the pup's portrait was first engraved upon a gem by Jacques Guay.  Then another artist, possibly Francois Boucher, drew the gem, and last but not least Madame de Pompadour created an engraving based on the drawing.  This isn't meant to take away from the quality of the engraving at all.  The delicacy and sprightliness of this creature still shine through its third stage of portrayal; Madame de Pompadour was a woman of several gifts, so this doesn't surprise me.

I found a transcript of an NPR review of the Walters' exhibition in which "Bebe" was included.  Would you like to read it?  Here you go. 

BONUS!  Are you interested in the royal world of Versailles in general?  Have I found the blog for you.  This is Versailles.