Marie Antoinette's: The Duchess de Polignac Infinite Sweetness and Mistress of Herself

Duchess de Polignac aka Little Po More likely to be seen in pearls than in diamonds

Here is one of my favorite detailed (details, details, details!) accounts of the Duchess de Polignac. Maxime de La Rocheterie, born 1837, wrote much on the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette's life. His works include titles such as La communion de Marie-Antoinette à la conciergerie. I think you will enjoy this bit, from Histoire de Marie-Antoinette.

Her face of a perfect oval, save for the defective outline and too dark colour of the forehead, her angelic features, her large blue eyes, her long brown hair, her charming mouth, her superb teeth, her well turned neck and shoulders, her medium figure, which however, seemed taller than it was in reality, gave her an air of grace rather than of beauty.

A nose not altogether straight, without, however, being retrousst, a profound gaze, wherein was reflected a naive astonishment, an enchanting smile, a certain nonchalant languor and careless attitude which recalled the Italian Morbidezza, and a simplicity full of naturalness, in striking contrast to the noisy pretension of the other ladies of the court added to her mien something that was both alluring and piquant.

Portrait of the duchess de polignac wearing a straw hat with a feather and is dressed en gaulle

Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun. Yolande Polignac. 1782, oil on canvas. Wadsworth Atheneum.

"Never did a face promise more charm and sweetness than did that of Madame de Polignac," the Comte de la Marck said; "never bearing showed greater decorum, modesty, and reserve."

La duchesse de Pilignac, nee Gabrielle-Yolande-Claude-Martine de Polastron (1749-1793), gouvernante des enfants de France 1782, profil (Bayonne, collection Gramont). via Ribeton, Olivier. 1992. Les Gramont: portraits de famille, XVIe-XVIIIe siècles. [Pau]: J&D éditions.

"She had one of those heads," the Due de Levis said, "such as Raphael painted, wherein he combined a spiritual expression and infinite sweetness. Others might excite greater surprise and admiration, but one never tired of looking at her."

portrait of the duchess de polignac holding a book and wearing a hat

Louise Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, The Duchess de Polignac. 1783, oil on canvas. The National Trust Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, UK.

She was not a witty woman, nor was she a learned woman; she was a woman of the world, who spoke little, was mistress of herself, and showed a constant loyalty to her friends, hiding perhaps beneath an apparent candour more tenacity and finesse than appeared.

La Rocheterie, Maxime de, and Cora Hamilton Bell. 1906. The life of Marie Antoinette . New York: Dodd, Mead and Co.