Did she entertain the afternoons and evenings given by Marie-Antoinette at the Petit Trianon?
On December 9 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, the Aguttes house will auction a pretty guitar that the Queen of France very probably offered to her friend, the Marquise de La Rochelambert-Thévalles.
This exquisite stringed instrument is the work of luthier Jacques Philippe Michelot (1744-1814).
This so-called boat guitar is made up of a fruitwood body decorated with ivory and ebony stringing, a spruce top with a beautiful tight grain, pretty Parisian marquetry and a remarkable ivory rosette openwork representing two doves kissing on a temple of Love.
This instrument was probably reassembled in 6 strings around 1810. It is estimated between 60,000 to 80,000 euros.
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The Marquise de La Rochelambert-Thévales was an emblematic figure of the small pleasures of Trianon and the royal court of Versailles at the end of the 18th century.
Born Louise Élisabeth de Lostanges, she was baptized at Versailles on August 11, 1759, her godfather was none other than Louis de Bourbon, Dauphin of France, father of King Louis XVI and his godmother Louise-Elisabeth de Bourbon, known as Madame de France, daughter of Louis XV.
His parents were familiar with the Court at Versailles.
On December 1, 1778, she married François, Marquis de La Rochelambert-Thévalles and it was only natural that she was immediately presented officially to the Court of France.
On September 9 of the following year, she was admitted to the honors of the Court and presented to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette by Madame Adélaïde of France.
The two women obviously loved each other because, among other things, they shared the same passion for music.
The legend says that after a concert given by Marie-Antoinette at the Petit Trianon, the queen asked the Count of Haga if he had had a pleasant evening.
The latter replied with a smile of satisfaction on his lips:
“Madame, how could one not be so when one has the joy of hearing Madame de La Rochelambert”
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You should know that the marquise was both a delicate singer and an excellent guitar player...
