# Madame du Barry > French noblewoman by marriage (1743–1793), last mistress of Louis XV (from 1768 to 1774) **Wikidata**: [Q230677](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230677) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_du_Barry) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/madame-du-barry ## Summary Madame du Barry was born on August 19, 1743, in Vaucouleurs [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and died on December 8, 1793, in Paris [1][2][8][3][4][5][7]. She was a citizen of France [8][1] and held multiple occupations, including royal mistress, courtesan, art collector, modiste, and salesperson . She was married to Guillaume Dubarry from 1768 until his death in 1793 . She was buried at the Madeleine Cemetery . ## Summary Madame du Barry was a French noblewoman by marriage and the last official mistress of King Louis XV of France, holding this position from 1768 to 1774. Born as Marie-Jeanne Bécu, she rose from a modest background to become one of the most influential women at the French royal court. Her legacy includes her role in the arts, particularly as an art collector, and her tragic end during the French Revolution. ## Biography - Born: 1743 - Nationality: France - Education: No formal education data available - Known for: Being the last official mistress of Louis XV - Employer(s): Royal court of Louis XV - Field(s): Royal mistress, art collector, courtesan ## Contributions Madame du Barry contributed to 18th-century French culture primarily through her patronage of the arts and her influence at court. She was associated with the painting *The Bathers* by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, created in 1765. Though not directly credited as its creator, her ownership or association with the piece places her within the cultural landscape of the period. Her role as a royal mistress also positioned her as a semi-official figure at court, influencing fashion and social dynamics. ## FAQs ### Who was Madame du Barry? Madame du Barry was the last official mistress of King Louis XV of France, holding this title from 1768 to 1774. She was born Marie-Jeanne Bécu and became a countess by marriage. ### What roles did Madame du Barry hold? She was a royal mistress, a courtesan, and an art collector. She also had connections to the fashion world as a modiste, though this is less substantiated. ### What is Madame du Barry known for? She is known for her position as the king's mistress, her tragic execution during the French Revolution, and her patronage of the arts, including ownership or association with notable works such as *The Bathers*. ### What happened to Madame du Barry during the Revolution? She was arrested during the French Revolution and executed in 1793, marking the end of her life and public influence. ## Why They Matter Madame du Barry's significance lies in her role as the final royal mistress of the French monarchy before the Revolution, symbolizing the end of an era. Her patronage of art and association with works like *The Bathers* situates her within the cultural shifts of pre-revolutionary France. Her execution in 1793 also underscores the violent end of the aristocratic class she represented. ## Notable For - Being the last official mistress of Louis XV (1768–1774) - Association with the painting *The Bathers* by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1765) - Rise from a non-noble background to the royal court - Execution during the French Revolution in 1793 - Recognition as both a courtesan and an art collector - Holding the title of comtesse du Barry through marriage ## Body ### Early Life Madame du Barry was born Marie-Jeanne Bécu in 1743. Her origins were not of nobility, and she entered the court through her charm, beauty, and connections. She became the Comtesse du Barry by marriage, which elevated her social standing and allowed her access to the royal court. ### Career From 1768 to 1774, she served as the official royal mistress to Louis XV, a role that granted her significant, though informal, influence at court. As a royal mistress, she was part of a long tradition of court figures who wielded soft power through their proximity to the king. Her tenure ended with the king's death in 1774. ### Art and Cultural Influence Madame du Barry was an art collector and was associated with *The Bathers*, a painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard created in 1765. While not directly credited as an artist or author, her patronage and ownership of such works placed her within the cultural elite of 18th-century France. ### Personal and Professional Titles She was known by several aliases, including: - Marie-Jeanne Bécu - Comtesse du Barry - Jeanne Bécu - Countess Du Barry - Madame Barre She was also identified as a courtesan and potentially a modiste, although the latter is less substantiated. ### End of Life Madame du Barry's life ended tragically during the French Revolution. She was arrested and executed in 1793, a victim of the revolutionary fervor that swept away the aristocracy and those associated with the old regime. ### Legacy Her legacy is tied to her role as the last royal mistress, her brief but impactful presence at court, and her association with the arts. Her life illustrates the volatile nature of influence and status in pre-revolutionary France, where proximity to power could elevate one's status but also lead to downfall in times of upheaval. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. Integrated Authority File 3. RKDartists 4. International Standard Name Identifier 5. Virtual International Authority File 6. CiNii Research 7. SNAC 8. Find a Grave 9. The Peerage 10. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 11. FemBio database 12. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 14. CERL Thesaurus 15. LIBRIS. 2012 16. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File 17. Catalogo of the National Library of India