The Marquise de Pompadour in a muff

Born in 1721, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson became Louis XV's mistress in 1745, exerting considerable influence on the king, the court and the arts. In this portrait of the favorite, executed a year before her untimely death, Drouais departs from the ceremonial portrait, depicting the marquise in an interior protecting her hands in a fur muff, dressed with elegant simplicity in a French-style silk gown. The marquise, in her late forties, nonetheless has a natural expression conveyed by her benevolent smile and gentle gaze. This small, intimate work was probably intended for the Marquise's close circle of friends and admirers.

Although the exact circumstances of this commission are unknown, Humphrey Wine suggests that the work is a replica of the portrait of Madame de Pompadour at her embroidery loom (1763-1764, London, National Gallery), and not a preparatory study. The painting has given rise to a large number of replicas or partial reproductions, as is the case with the painting in Orléans. The inscription on the canvas states that Madame de Pompadour's face was retouched "d'après nature" in June 1763, probably on the occasion of her visit to Paris for the ceremonies marking the end of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).

First Painter to the King (1710-1774), Drouais received numerous commissions from the royal entourage. He studied with his father, Hubert Drouais (1699-1767), Donat Nonnotte (1708-1785), Carle Van Loo (1705-1765), Charles-Joseph Natoire (1700-1777) and François Boucher (1703-1770). Admitted to the Académie royale in 1758, Drouais executed portraits of members of the royal family, as well as of the court. A relentless worker, Drouais left a considerable body of work when he died at the age of 48.