Madame de Tessé
Encyclopedia
Adrienne Catherine, comtesse de Noailles de Tessé (24 December 1741 – December 1813), daughter of Louis, 4th duc de Noailles
, sister of the Jean-Louis-Paul-François, 5th duc de Noailles, aunt of Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles
, held a salon
, and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson
, in the early 19th century.
.
In February 1764 , on his tour of Paris, Mozart dedicated his sonatas for piano and violin, KV8 and KV9 to her.
, and holding a salon
:
. A room from the Hôtel de Tessé, was given to the Metropolitan Museum by Mrs. Herman N. Straus.
Lafayette, who was her nephew-in -law, often went to her country house, the Chateau de Chaville
, built in 1766, near Paris, as a part of the social scene. Thomas Jefferson
met Madame de Tessé when he was minister to France between 1784 and 1789. Jefferson began a long correspondence with her after visiting Chaville
.
Gouverneur Morris
after being received at Versailles
, 5 March 1789, visited:
And on 17 September 1789, he noted:
He met her on 22 July 1792:
Her cousins, Henriette-Anne-Louise d'Aguesseau
de La Grange, and Catherine de Cossé-Brissac, and niece, Louise vicomtesse de Noailles, were guillotined, on 22 July 1794.
, near the town of Ploen, with a large entourage, her Montagu nephews, an old priest, the Abbé de Luchet. Her niece, Adrienne de La Fayette
recuperated nearby at Lhemkuln, Holstein. At Witmold, Anastasie de Lafayette married Juste-Charles de la Tour-Maubourg, the brother of another Olmütz detainee, Charles César de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg
In 1804, she sold the house to Johannes Schuback.
She purchased a townhouse in Paris
, at No. 8, rue d'Anjou, (now rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
).
Upon returning from exile, Monsieur and Madame de Tessé returned to Lavardin Castle, in Mézières
, and his hotel in the city of Le Mans
(near red Pillar) and the Bazoge Forest
. What remained of his immense fortune allowed them again, this time to live more richly. We know that in the last years of his life, he gave his hotel de Tessé, to make a seminar and a bishopric, in Sarthe
and Mayenne
departments. The Comte de Tessé, last Marquis of Lavardin, died in Paris on 21 January 1814, aged seventy eight years.
) and a persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana
). Jefferson also gave her a specimen of sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus). While in France he had encountered the white heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens
), native to Peru, and sent seeds home to his friend Francis Eppes for Monticello, noting that it was:
), which was by then growing at Monticello—the first such specimen in the United States. Jefferson wrote:
Louis, 4th duc de Noailles
Louis de Noailles, 4th Duke of Noailles was a French peer and Marshal of France. He married Catherine de Cossé-Brissac, on 25 February 1737...
, sister of the Jean-Louis-Paul-François, 5th duc de Noailles, aunt of Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles
Adrienne de La Fayette
Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles, marquise de La Fayette , the daughter of Jean de Noailles, and Henriette Anne Louise d'Aguesseau, married Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette....
, held a salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
, and corresponded with Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, in the early 19th century.
Life
On 20 June 1755, she married René de Froulay, Comte de Tessé (1736–1814), grandson of René de Froulay de TesséRené de Froulay de Tessé
René de Froulay, comte de Tessé was a French Marshal and diplomat.- Military career :Tessé was born at Le Mans...
.
In February 1764 , on his tour of Paris, Mozart dedicated his sonatas for piano and violin, KV8 and KV9 to her.
My Master Wolfgang, however, has received from Madame la Comtesse de Tessé a gold snuff-box and a gold watch, valuable on account of its smallness
French Revolution
In the early days of the revolutionary period, she was in Paris taking an interest in, and attending the AssemblyNational Assembly (French Revolution)
During the French Revolution, the National Assembly , which existed from June 17 to July 9, 1789, was a transitional body between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly.-Background:...
, and holding a salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
:
In the salon of Madame de Tessé, who according to the Goncourt brothersThis salon was held at her townhouse on the Rue de Varenne, Faubourg Saint-GermainGoncourt brothersThe Goncourt brothers were Edmond de Goncourt and Jules de Goncourt , both French naturalist writers. They formed a partnership that "is possibly unique in literary history...
, had been formulating plans for a constitutional monarchy for twenty years, "the most advanced opinions" found themselves amid what Guizot called, "a small group with elegant manners."
Faubourg Saint-Germain
The Faubourg Saint Germain is an historic district of Paris. The Faubourg has long been known as the favorite home of the French high nobility and hosts many aristocratic Hôtels particuliers...
. A room from the Hôtel de Tessé, was given to the Metropolitan Museum by Mrs. Herman N. Straus.
Lafayette, who was her nephew-in -law, often went to her country house, the Chateau de Chaville
Chaville
Chaville is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Nearest communes:*Meudon*Sèvres*Vélizy-Villacoublay*Viroflay*Ville-d'Avray....
, built in 1766, near Paris, as a part of the social scene. Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
met Madame de Tessé when he was minister to France between 1784 and 1789. Jefferson began a long correspondence with her after visiting Chaville
Chaville
Chaville is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-Nearest communes:*Meudon*Sèvres*Vélizy-Villacoublay*Viroflay*Ville-d'Avray....
.
Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris
Gouverneur Morris , was an American statesman, a Founding Father of the United States, and a native of New York City who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. Morris was also an author of large sections of the...
after being received at Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
, 5 March 1789, visited:
Return to Paris and dine with Madame de Tessé—republicans of the first feather. The countess, who is a very sensible woman, has formed her ideas of government in a manner not suited, I think, either to the situation, the circumstances, or the disposition of France, and there are many such,
And on 17 September 1789, he noted:
She is a convert to my principles. We have a gay conversation of some minutes on their affairs, in which I mingle sound maxims of government with that piquant légèreté which this nation delights in. I am fortunate, and at going away she follows me and insists that I dine with her next time I come to Versailles.
He met her on 22 July 1792:
Later in the evening, visit Madame de Tessé. She is deeply engaged in a political discussion. I find that the high democrats begin to cool a little, and I think that by degrees they will feel, though they would not understand reason.
Her cousins, Henriette-Anne-Louise d'Aguesseau
Henriette-Anne-Louise d'Aguesseau
Henriette Anne Louise d'Aguesseau, Duchess of Noailles, Princess of Tingry , was the heiress of her grandfather, Henri François d'Aguesseau, and wife of Jean Paul François de Noailles, Count and Duke of Ayen.-Family:...
de La Grange, and Catherine de Cossé-Brissac, and niece, Louise vicomtesse de Noailles, were guillotined, on 22 July 1794.
After the Revolution
In 1797, she lived in exile at Witmold, HolsteinHolstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
, near the town of Ploen, with a large entourage, her Montagu nephews, an old priest, the Abbé de Luchet. Her niece, Adrienne de La Fayette
Adrienne de La Fayette
Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles, marquise de La Fayette , the daughter of Jean de Noailles, and Henriette Anne Louise d'Aguesseau, married Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette....
recuperated nearby at Lhemkuln, Holstein. At Witmold, Anastasie de Lafayette married Juste-Charles de la Tour-Maubourg, the brother of another Olmütz detainee, Charles César de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg
Charles César de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg
Marie-Charles-César de Faÿ, comte de la Tour-Maubourg , was a French soldier and politician during the French Revolution, and of the First French Empire...
In 1804, she sold the house to Johannes Schuback.
She purchased a townhouse in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, at No. 8, rue d'Anjou, (now rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
The rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is a street in Paris, France. Although relatively narrow and nondescript , it is cited as being one of the most fashionable streets in the world, thanks to the presence of virtually every major global fashion house...
).
Upon returning from exile, Monsieur and Madame de Tessé returned to Lavardin Castle, in Mézières
Mézières-sous-Lavardin
Mézières-sous-Lavardin is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.-References:*...
, and his hotel in the city of Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
(near red Pillar) and the Bazoge Forest
La Bazoge, Sarthe
La Bazoge is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France. It is twinned with the village of Bardney in Lincolnshire-References:*...
. What remained of his immense fortune allowed them again, this time to live more richly. We know that in the last years of his life, he gave his hotel de Tessé, to make a seminar and a bishopric, in Sarthe
Sarthe
Sarthe is a French department, named after the Sarthe River.- History :The department was created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, pursuant to the law of December 22, 1789, starting from a part of the province of Maine which was divided into two departments, Sarthe to the east and...
and Mayenne
Mayenne
Mayenne is a department in northwest France named after the Mayenne River.-History:Mayenne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The northern two thirds correspond to the western part of the former province of Maine...
departments. The Comte de Tessé, last Marquis of Lavardin, died in Paris on 21 January 1814, aged seventy eight years.
Horticulture
She was particularly interested in native American plants, which Jefferson ordered for her chateau garden. In 1788 the countess wrote requesting him to send her the shrub beautyberry (Callicarpa americanaCallicarpa americana
American Beautyberry is an open-habit, native shrub of the Southern United States which is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards...
) and a persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana
Diospyros virginiana
Diospyros virginiana, commonly called the American persimmon, common persimmon, Eastern persimmon, "'simmon" and "possumwood", is a persimmon species known by a variety of names including. It ranges from New England to Florida, and west to Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas...
). Jefferson also gave her a specimen of sweet shrub (Calycanthus floridus). While in France he had encountered the white heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens
Heliotropium arborescens
The Garden Heliotrope is a highly fragrant perennial plant, originally from Peru. It is especially notable for its intense, rather vanilla-like fragrance. Common names include cherry pie and "common heliotrope"...
), native to Peru, and sent seeds home to his friend Francis Eppes for Monticello, noting that it was:
to be sowed in the spring. a delicious flower, but I suspect it must be planted in boxes & kept in the house in the winter, the smell rewards the care.In 1811 Jefferson acknowledged the receipt of seeds, she had sent in 1809, of the native Chinese goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata
Koelreuteria paniculata
Koelreuteria paniculata, with the common name Goldenrain tree, is a species of Koelreuteria native to eastern Asia, in China and Korea...
), which was by then growing at Monticello—the first such specimen in the United States. Jefferson wrote:
I cherish it with particular attentions, as it daily reminds me of the friendship with which you have honored me.
I learn with great pleasure the success of your new gardens at Auenay. No occupation can be more delightful or useful. They will have the merit of inducing you to forget those of Chaville.
External references
- Thomas Jefferson Correspondence, March 20, 1787
- Thomas Jefferson Correspondence, December 8, 1813
- William Howard Adams, The Paris Years of Thomas Jefferson, p.109-110
- Jefferson in France, Twinleaf Journal, Spring 2008
- Gabriel Senac de Meilhan
- Preston Remmington, A Room from the Hôtel de Tessé
- Index T, Papers of Thomas Jefferson