A crimson or pink color; also, a style of dress cut low and square in the neck; also, a mode of dressing the hair by drawing it straight back from the forehead over a roll; so called after the Marchioness de Pompadour of France
a hair style in which the front hair is swept up from the forehead French noblewoman who was the lover of Louis XV, whose policies she influenced (1721-1764) style women's hair in a pompadour
French noblewoman who was the lover of Louis XV, whose policies she influenced (1721-1764)
known as Madame de Pompadour born Dec. 29, 1721, Paris, France died April 15, 1764, Versailles French mistress of Louis XV. Educated in art and literature, she married Charles-Guillaume Le Normant d'Étoiles in 1741 and became admired by Parisian society and by the king, who installed her at Versailles as his mistress in 1745. She obtained a separation from her husband and was created marchioness de Pompadour. She, the king, and her brother, appointed director of the king's buildings, planned and built the École Militaire and the Place de la Concorde in Paris, the Petit Trianon Palace at Versailles, and many other buildings. She and Louis also encouraged painters, sculptors, and craftsmen, making her 20 years in power the height of artistic taste. Her political influence was less astute; the alliance with Austria against the German Protestant princes that she urged led to the disastrous Seven Years' War
the lover of King Louis XV of France from 1745 until her death. She often influenced the king, especially when he had to choose government officials and make political decisions (1721-64)