The head of the sitter is painted on a rectangular canvas inserted into the painting. The head was probably painted while she was still alive; the rest was added after Madame de Pompadour's death. Madame de Pompadour was born in 1721 as Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson. She became the official mistress, and Marquise de Pompadour in 1745. The painting shows Madame de Pompadour as the cultured woman that she wanted to represent. Not only the embroidery itself, but also the mandolin, the book case, the portfolio of prints, and a little dog, testify to her being a "respectable and cultured woman'.
The painting shows Madame de Pompadour working a tambour embroidery (as can be detected from the position of her hands).
The painting measures 217 x 156.8 cm.
See also the Needles entry on another painting of Madame de Pompadour: Madame de Pompadour embroidering.
National Gallery online catalogue (retrieved 16 July 2016).
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