Saturday 9 November 2013

Julie de Lespinasse, Salon Keeper of Renown

Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse (Lyon, France, 9th November 1732 – Paris, France, 23rd May 1776) 


Julie de Lespinasse

As a salon-keeper myself, it is a joy to welcome one of my illustrious fellows to the Guide. Today's guest lived a life of glorious highs and terrible lows and though she suffered a sad end, it is a joy to mark her birth and learn a little more of the life of Julie-Jeanne-Eleonore de Lespinasse.

Born in Lyon to the unmarried comtesse d’Albon, Julie's upbringing was entrusted to Claude Lespinasse, a man who lived a somewhat scandalous life himself. The intelligent young girl was schooled in a convent and at the age of 16 took a job as governess to the children of the comtesse's legitimate daughter, the marquise de Vichy. It was through her role as governess that Julie was introduced to the famed salon-keeper, Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand. Despite the vast differences in their ages  the two women became friends, with Julie eventually becoming her official paid companion in Paris. Madame du Deffand's sight had deteriorated to the point of blindness and she found the charming young lady an invaluable help in her continued entertaining.

At the age of 22 Julie was installed in Madame du Deffand's apartments in the Convent of St. Joseph on the rue Saint-Dominique and took instantly to the life. Suddenly the convent girl was mixing in the most illustrious intellectual and political circles in France, learning the art of salon-keeping from her experienced employer. It was not long at all before the young lady became the focal point of the salon, her popularity threatening to outstrip that of her mistress and after a decade together, the women's friendship ended in animosity. Madame du Deffand discovered that Julie was meeting salon guests in private an hour before their appointed audiences with the salon-keeper herself and was furious at this apparent betrayal; a terrible argument ensued and Julie struck out on her own.

Julie's salon became one of the brightest gatherings in Paris, with many members of her former employer's circle defecting to this new intellectual proving ground. A glittering hostess of keen wit and intellect, Julie was happy to allow the famed thinker Jean le Rond d'Alembert to take up residence in her home. His influence leant an air of exclusivity to her salon and increased her reach even further. However, whilst d'Alembert was infatuated with his hostess the pair were never to be more than friends and Julie nursed a secret passion of her own, which was to end in tragedy.

Not long after moving out of Madame de Deffand's home, Julie met the Marquis de Mora, son of the Spanish ambassador to France and the couple fell in love against the wishes of his family. Mora was already in the early stages of consumption though and returned to Spain for the good of his health, leaving Julie bereft. Despite her unhappiness, the couple continued to exchange loving correspondence, little knowing that they would never meet again. Planning to marry his adored salon-keeper, Mora began the journey to France to fulfil his vow; however, he fell dangerously ill on the road and died before he could reach Paris. The tragic groom-to-be was not to know that his adored Julie had already begun a new and unrequited infatuation with Jacques Antoine Hippolyte, comte de Guibert.

Julie's letters reveal that she was torn between the two men, her unhappiness deepening at the news of Mora's death in 1774 as well as the marriage of Guibert to another. She descended swiftly into depression and withdrew from society, cared for by the ever-devoted d'Alembert. Despite the efforts of her friend, the once famed hostess began to deteriorate at an alarming rate and died a broken woman at the age of just 43. Following Julie's death her letters were published and revealed a woman of wit, intelligence and desire who fell victim to passions she was unable to overcome.

22 comments:

The Greenockian said...

Aw - what a sad story!
Liz

Kristina said...

What a life...so sad, yet so intriguing!

stillfeelingyoung67 said...

Indeed a sad story and another great history storyu

Catherine Curzon said...

It's a real tearjerker!

Catherine Curzon said...

It strikes me as one if the most moving stories I've heard, I really wanted to share her tale!

Catherine Curzon said...

Thank you!

Unknown said...

My goodness! What a lot she achieved in her short 43 years. Some of the earlier episodes remind me so much of Jane Eyre! Why is it, I wonder, that the upbringing of these young wards was so often left to a man! I fully appreciate her romantic complications later in life. Although she suffered, what a small mercy that her groom to be died in ignorance of her dalliance!

Catherine Curzon said...

That is a small mercy; I think she must have been a somewhat troubled lady.

Unknown said...

If this was written as a work of fiction, it would seem a trifle "overdone." How was she able to go from a companion to having her own salon? Did she inherit money from her mother? I am so intrigued by her story. So many unanswered questions.

Catherine Curzon said...

I'm doing a little more research into Julie's life myself and will update this entry if I find anything. I don't believe she inherited from her mother, rather that her charmed patrons were instrumental in helping her establish her own salon but I've not got anything concrete around that yet!

Anonymous said...

I am always interested in what ACTUALLY caused all those "declines into death." In at least some cases I would think other than tuberculosis. Many women have gall bladder problems in their 40's--me being one. A depressed woman doesn't necessarily die. A depressed woman with an untreated disease does. Call it suicide by crisis.

Catherine Curzon said...

The gall bladder theory is very interesting; I think quite often we tend to jump to the tuberculosis theory because it was so common but you're right, there are so many *other* complaints.

Anonymous said...

Hey thanks for article and i wanted to ask
How we could sure she wrote the letters? i ask because the published long after
thank you

Catherine Curzon said...

Luckily Julie's correspondence was left in good order after her death and there is a lot of detail on the provenance of the letters in the introduction to Letters Mlle De Lespinasse. You can read it at the link below, thank you for visiting!

https://archive.org/stream/lettersmlledeles010668mbp/lettersmlledeles010668mbp_djvu.txt

Anonymous said...

Thank you her letters is most interesting
I so happy that i find that site i learn things i didnt know and i see you have so much knowledge of 18th century
Me too like to know about this period and i wanted to know if is not hard for you i looking for a long diary of wealthy lady (or actress) that lived in 18th century and wrote daily every day did you know of diaries ?
I thank you very much

Catherine Curzon said...

I would highly recommend the diaries of Frances Burney; not an actress, but a lady who lived a fascinating life in England and France. You can read some of her writing online at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/5826/5826-h/5826-h.htm

There is also the wonder Hester Thrale's Thraliana, which I cannot recommend highly enough.

Anonymous said...

i read diaries of Frances Burney and i love them
and about Hester Thrale's Thraliana in no seem like a diary
i will like to read about diary of only young women and like i find Journal of a Young Lady of Virginia (Lucinda Lee you thank you

Catherine Curzon said...

Lee's journal is a fantastic read but Burney's is my favourite!

Gem Twitcher said...

Has Madame found any of her precious time to investigate Julie's background further? Your wonderful Post has been like reading your devoted fans only part of a story?

Catherine Curzon said...

I'm afraid I haven't, but I suspect I might!

Anonymous said...

Hi there ! Where can I read Frances Burney's letters?

Catherine Curzon said...

They're available in multiple editions, including online and free of charge (legally!) at archive.org. Enjoy!