Women of the Court

Female book owners were a significant presence at Versailles, the French royal residence and seat of government during the reigns of Louis XIV, XV, and XVI. About one-third of the books in the Wrightsman collection bear the coats of arms of women, including queens, empresses, duchesses, and countesses.

A wife’s family armorial was traditionally paired with that of her husband, with his on the left and hers on the right. While his arms could stand alone, hers typically did not. The exceptions shown here, such as the armorials of Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV’s mistress and a prominent arts patron, and the Mesdames, three daughters of Louis XV, are rare examples of the independent status of certain women at court.

The books on display represent a variety of decorative styles and techniques, from the simple to the lavish, with armorials produced from either a single tool (or plaque) or built up from many small tool impressions. The books with more elaborate bindings were appropriate for display, while those with plainer covers—but decorated spines—were likely destined for bookcases. With the Wrightsman gift, nearly every royal woman at the French court in the eighteenth century is now represented by a signed document or bound book in the Morgan’s collection.