Abel-François Poisson de Vandières, marquis de Marigny and marquis de Menars (1727 – 12 May 1781), often referred to simply as marquis de Marigny, was a French nobleman who served as the director general of the King's Buildings. He was the brother of King Louis XV's influential mistress Madame de Pompadour.
Non-noble by birth, Abel-François Poisson de Vandières was raised in a family of Parisian financiers. When his elder sister, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson became, in 1745, the official mistress of Louis XV and was given the title "marquise de Pompadour", she had him follow her to the court, where the young man attracted the favours of the king. When Philibert Orry retired, the king arranged for Abel-François Poisson de Vandières - then aged 18 - to inherit the direction of the Bâtiments du Roi ("direction générale des Bâtiments, Arts, Jardins et Manufactures"), while Charles François Paul Le Normant de Tournehem, believed to be the marquise de Pompadour's biological father, was named as Orry's immediate successor.
Charles Antoine Coypel, first painter to the king, was given the responsibility of training and educating the young Abel-François Poisson de Vandières. With Coypel's help, Poisson de Vandières chose paintings from the royal collection for exhibition at the Palais du Luxembourg, thus creating the first museum in France.
Between December 1749 and September 1751, he spent twenty-five months in Italy, staying first at the Académie de France à Rome, and then travelling (the so-called "Grand Tour") across the country with the engraver Charles Nicolas Cochin, the architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot and the abbé Leblanc. This trip would have important repercussions on the development of arts and artistic taste in France.
Work in the Palace
At the death of Le Normant de Tournehem in 1751, Poisson de Vandières was called back from Italy and took over his functions as "directeur général des Bâtiments du Roi" (director general of the King's Buildings). He kept this position until his retirement in 1773, thereby setting a record for the longest administrative service in the 18th century in France.
Irritable, boastful, easily angered, insecure about his humble origins, Marigny was nevertheless an intelligent and energetic administrator concerned with the importance of his work. He encouraged history painting and, in architecture, the return to classical sources, which would become French neoclassicism. He sponsored the architect Soufflot, whom he chose for the construction of the new Église Sainte-Geneviève (today the "Panthéon"), a major work in the neoclassical style. He gave oversight of the construction of the new Théâtre-Français (today the Théâtre de l'Odéon) to Charles De Wailly and Marie-Joseph Peyre. He directed construction of the Place Louis XV (today the Place de la Concorde), the planting of the gardens of the Champs-Élysées, and supervised construction of the École Militaire. He gave numerous commissions to François Boucher, Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo, Jean-Baptiste Pierre and named Charles-Joseph Natoire as director of the Académie de France à Rome.
As Marquis de Marigny
Having inherited from his father in 1754 the château of Marigny-en-Orxois, near Château-Thierry, he became the same year marquis de Marigny. In 1767, he married Julie Marie Françoise Filleul (1751-1822), the illegitimate daughter of Louis XV and Irène du Buisson de Longpré, with whom he had a daughter who died young.
The marquis de Marigny amassed an important collection of works of art at his various residences.
Although he suffered severely from gout, the marquis de Marigny died unexpectedly in 1781 at Paris, leaving no will.
Residences
1752-1778: Hôtel de Marigny, built in 1640, rue Saint-Thomas-du-Louvre (demolished, the site today is the corner of the Richelieu wing of the Louvre and the north-east corner of the "pyramide du Louvre"). The Direction générale des Bâtiments was located there until 1773.
Pavillon Le Pâté in Bercy, south-east of Paris, built in 1720.
1781: Hôtel Delpech de Chaumot, n° 8 Place Vendôme in Paris.
References
This article is a translation of the equivalent article from the French Wikipedia, consulted on 14 August 2006.
Alden Gordon, The House and Collections of the Marquis de Marigny, Los Angeles, Getty Press, 2003.
A. Marquiset, Le Marquis de Marigny, Paris, 1918.
External links
Media related to Abel-François Poisson de Vandières at Wikimedia Commons
January 24, 2023
abel, françois, poisson, vandières, marquis, marigny, marquis, menars, 1727, 1781, often, referred, simply, marquis, marigny, french, nobleman, served, director, general, king, buildings, brother, king, louis, influential, mistress, madame, pompadour, vandière. Abel Francois Poisson de Vandieres marquis de Marigny and marquis de Menars 1727 12 May 1781 often referred to simply as marquis de Marigny was a French nobleman who served as the director general of the King s Buildings He was the brother of King Louis XV s influential mistress Madame de Pompadour Abel Francois Poisson de VandieresThe marquis de Marigny Portrait by Alexander Roslin 1764 Chateau de Versailles Directeur general Batiments du RoiIn office 1751 1773Preceded byCharles Francois Paul Le Normant de TournehemSucceeded byJoseph Marie TerrayPersonal detailsBorn1727ParisDied 1781 05 12 12 May 1781Paris Contents 1 Early life 2 Work in the Palace 3 As Marquis de Marigny 4 Residences 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditNon noble by birth Abel Francois Poisson de Vandieres was raised in a family of Parisian financiers When his elder sister Jeanne Antoinette Poisson became in 1745 the official mistress of Louis XV and was given the title marquise de Pompadour she had him follow her to the court where the young man attracted the favours of the king When Philibert Orry retired the king arranged for Abel Francois Poisson de Vandieres then aged 18 to inherit the direction of the Batiments du Roi direction generale des Batiments Arts Jardins et Manufactures while Charles Francois Paul Le Normant de Tournehem believed to be the marquise de Pompadour s biological father was named as Orry s immediate successor Charles Antoine Coypel first painter to the king was given the responsibility of training and educating the young Abel Francois Poisson de Vandieres With Coypel s help Poisson de Vandieres chose paintings from the royal collection for exhibition at the Palais du Luxembourg thus creating the first museum in France Between December 1749 and September 1751 he spent twenty five months in Italy staying first at the Academie de France a Rome and then travelling the so called Grand Tour across the country with the engraver Charles Nicolas Cochin the architect Jacques Germain Soufflot and the abbe Leblanc This trip would have important repercussions on the development of arts and artistic taste in France Work in the Palace EditAt the death of Le Normant de Tournehem in 1751 Poisson de Vandieres was called back from Italy and took over his functions as directeur general des Batiments du Roi director general of the King s Buildings He kept this position until his retirement in 1773 thereby setting a record for the longest administrative service in the 18th century in France Irritable boastful easily angered insecure about his humble origins Marigny was nevertheless an intelligent and energetic administrator concerned with the importance of his work He encouraged history painting and in architecture the return to classical sources which would become French neoclassicism He sponsored the architect Soufflot whom he chose for the construction of the new Eglise Sainte Genevieve today the Pantheon a major work in the neoclassical style He gave oversight of the construction of the new Theatre Francais today the Theatre de l Odeon to Charles De Wailly and Marie Joseph Peyre He directed construction of the Place Louis XV today the Place de la Concorde the planting of the gardens of the Champs Elysees and supervised construction of the Ecole Militaire He gave numerous commissions to Francois Boucher Charles Amedee Philippe van Loo Jean Baptiste Pierre and named Charles Joseph Natoire as director of the Academie de France a Rome As Marquis de Marigny EditHaving inherited from his father in 1754 the chateau of Marigny en Orxois near Chateau Thierry he became the same year marquis de Marigny In 1767 he married Julie Marie Francoise Filleul 1751 1822 the illegitimate daughter of Louis XV and Irene du Buisson de Longpre with whom he had a daughter who died young The marquis de Marigny amassed an important collection of works of art at his various residences Although he suffered severely from gout the marquis de Marigny died unexpectedly in 1781 at Paris leaving no will Residences Edit1752 1778 Hotel de Marigny built in 1640 rue Saint Thomas du Louvre demolished the site today is the corner of the Richelieu wing of the Louvre and the north east corner of the pyramide du Louvre The Direction generale des Batiments was located there until 1773 1778 1781 Hotel de Massiac Place des Victoires built in 1635 1754 1781 Chateau of Marigny en Orxois a renovated medieval castle 1759 1773 Hotel de Marigny faubourg du Roule Paris Bought from Louis Philippe I Duke of Orleans Redesigned in 1768 1771 by Jacques Germain Soufflot who constructed the western facade in a Palladian style 1764 1781 Chateau de Menars in Menars Loir et Cher inherited from his sister the marquise de Pompadour Pavillon Le Pate in Bercy south east of Paris built in 1720 1781 Hotel Delpech de Chaumot n 8 Place Vendome in Paris References EditThis article is a translation of the equivalent article from the French Wikipedia consulted on 14 August 2006 Alden Gordon The House and Collections of the Marquis de Marigny Los Angeles Getty Press 2003 A Marquiset Le Marquis de Marigny Paris 1918 External links Edit Media related to Abel Francois Poisson de Vandieres at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abel Francois Poisson amp oldid 1119051271, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
