Madame de Pompadour at the Legion of Honor: Power, Patronage, and Portraiture

In anticipation of the Legion of Honor centennial in 2024, we invite you to join curators of the European art department as we explore the fascinating life of Madame de Pompadour (1721–1764), mistress to the French king Louis XV. Pompadour was the ultimate pre–French Revolution patron as a major supporter of artists, designers, and manufacturers of the eighteenth century. Through the lens of female patronage and power as defined by the limitations at the time, interim curator in charge Martin Chapman and curatorial assistants Isabella Holland and Thomas Wu of the European art department will lead a presentation on Madame de Pompadour and artworks associated with her image in the Legion of Honor’s collection. Following the discussion, Chapman, Holland, and Wu joined members for a live Q&A.