Carle van Loo – Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, Madame Lenormant d’Etiolles, Marquise de Pompadour (1721-1764), portrait called “Belle Jardiniere” Château de Versailles

The painting depicts a portrait of Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, by Carle van Loo. She is presented as a Belle Jardinière (Beautiful Gardener), holding a sprig of white flowers in her right hand and a basket overflowing with them in her left. She wears a wide-brimmed blue hat tied with a blue ribbon under her chin and is adorned with blue bows on her light-colored dress. The background is a pastoral landscape with soft, hazy trees and a cloudy sky, contributing to the idyllic setting.
The subtext of the painting lies in its idealized representation of Madame de Pompadour. By portraying her as a gardener adorned with flowers and set in a serene natural environment, the artist elevates her beyond her political role. This romanticized image suggests themes of innocence, beauty, and connection to nature. However, given Madame de Pompadours position as the influential mistress of Louis XV and a patron of the arts, the Belle Jardinière persona can also be interpreted as a sophisticated propaganda tool, subtly presenting her in a more palatable and aesthetically pleasing light to the public, emphasizing her refined taste and grace rather than her political power. The abundance of flowers can symbolize her femininity, fertility, and her position as a cultivator of arts and culture at the French court.