Alexandre Le Riche de La Poupelinière
Encyclopedia
Alexandre Jean Joseph Le Riche de La Pouplinière (Paris
, 1693 – Passy
, 1762) was an immensely wealthy fermier général who was one of the greatest patrons of music and musicians of the eighteenth century. A true patron of the Enlightenment
he gathered round him a circle of artists, men of letters and musicians. He kept a private orchestra, "the best that was known in those days", according to Jean-François Marmontel
. which was led for twenty-two years by Jean-Philippe Rameau
, who was succeeded by Johann Stamitz
and then by François Joseph Gossec
. The best Italian musicians, violinists, singers, were lodged with him and fed at his table, and all, according to Marmontel, were inspired to shine competitively in his salon
. Voltaire
was obliged to his generosity, and Maurice Quentin de La Tour
and Carle van Loo both painted his portrait. Marmontel recalled later "Never did a bourgeois live in more princely style, and the princes came to enjoy his pleasures"
Separated from his wife, La Poupelinière established himself luxuriously at Passy
, a fashionable suburb west of Paris. The best singers from the Opéra
and the most beautiful dancers embellished his suppers. In his private theatre he mounted his own comedies; Marmontel found them mediocre, but expressed with such taste and so well written that it was not excessive flattery to applaud them.
Rameau met most of his librettists at the hôtel de La Poupelinière at Passy
and his operas were composed in the house.
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...
, 1693 – Passy
Passy
Passy is an area of Paris, France, located in the XVIe arrondissement, on the Right Bank. It is traditionally home to many of the city's wealthiest residents.Passy was formerly a commune...
, 1762) was an immensely wealthy fermier général who was one of the greatest patrons of music and musicians of the eighteenth century. A true patron of the Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
he gathered round him a circle of artists, men of letters and musicians. He kept a private orchestra, "the best that was known in those days", according to Jean-François Marmontel
Jean-François Marmontel
Jean-François Marmontel was a French historian and writer, a member of the Encyclopediste movement.-Biography:He was born of poor parents at Bort, Limousin...
. which was led for twenty-two years by Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau
Jean-Philippe Rameau was one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the Baroque era. He replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and is also considered the leading French composer for the harpsichord of his time, alongside François...
, who was succeeded by Johann Stamitz
Johann Stamitz
Jan Václav Antonín Stamic was a Czech composer and violinist. Johann was the father of Carl Stamitz and Anton Stamitz, also composers...
and then by François Joseph Gossec
François Joseph Gossec
François-Joseph Gossec was a French composer of operas, string quartets, symphonies, and choral works.-Life and work:...
. The best Italian musicians, violinists, singers, were lodged with him and fed at his table, and all, according to Marmontel, were inspired to shine competitively in his 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...
. Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
was obliged to his generosity, and Maurice Quentin de La Tour
Maurice Quentin de La Tour
Maurice Quentin de La Tour was a French Rococo portraitist who worked primarily with pastels. Among his most famous subjects were Voltaire, Rousseau, Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour.-Biography:...
and Carle van Loo both painted his portrait. Marmontel recalled later "Never did a bourgeois live in more princely style, and the princes came to enjoy his pleasures"
Separated from his wife, La Poupelinière established himself luxuriously at Passy
Passy
Passy is an area of Paris, France, located in the XVIe arrondissement, on the Right Bank. It is traditionally home to many of the city's wealthiest residents.Passy was formerly a commune...
, a fashionable suburb west of Paris. The best singers from the Opéra
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and the most beautiful dancers embellished his suppers. In his private theatre he mounted his own comedies; Marmontel found them mediocre, but expressed with such taste and so well written that it was not excessive flattery to applaud them.
Rameau met most of his librettists at the hôtel de La Poupelinière at Passy
Passy
Passy is an area of Paris, France, located in the XVIe arrondissement, on the Right Bank. It is traditionally home to many of the city's wealthiest residents.Passy was formerly a commune...
and his operas were composed in the house.