Juliette Drouet
Encyclopedia
Juliette Drouet, born Julienne Josephine Gauvain (10 April 1806 - 11 May 1883) was a French actress. She abandoned her career on the stage after becoming the mistress of Victor Hugo
, to whom she acted as a secretary and travelling companion. Juliette accompanied Hugo in his exile to the Channel Islands
, and wrote thousands of letters to him throughout her life.
, Ille-et-Vilaine
, the daughter of Julien Gauvain, a tailor, and Marie Marchandet, who was employed as a housemaid. She had two older sisters, Renee and Thérèse, and a brother Armand. She was orphaned from her mother a few months after her birth, and her father the following year, and was raised by her uncle, René Drouet. She was educated in Paris in a religious boarding school. She was a precocious child, having learned to read and write at the age of five; by the time she was ten, Gauvain was already proficient in literature and poetry. Around 1825, she became the mistress of sculptor James Pradier
, who represented her in a statue symbolizing Strasbourg, at the Place de la Concorde
in Paris. They had a daughter together, Claire. On the advice of Pradier, she started an acting career in 1829, initially in Brussels
, then in Paris. It was around that time Gauvain began using her uncle's surname, Drouet.
(see: Lucrezia Borgia
), she met Victor Hugo. She abandoned her theatrical career afterwards to dedicate her life to her lover. Her last stage role was of Lady Jane Grey in Hugo's Marie Tudor. She became Hugo's secretary and travelling companion. For many years she lived a cloistered life, leaving home only in his company. In 1852, she accompanied him in his exile on Jersey
, and then in 1855 on Guernsey
. She wrote thousands of letters to him throughout her life, which testify to her writing talent according to Henri Troyat
who wrote her biography in 1997.
Juliette Drouet died in Paris on 11 May 1883 at the age of seventy-seven.
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
, to whom she acted as a secretary and travelling companion. Juliette accompanied Hugo in his exile to the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, and wrote thousands of letters to him throughout her life.
Childhood And Early Years
Juliette was born Julienne Josephine Gauvain on 10 April 1806 in FougèresFougères
Fougères is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany, in north-western France.-Sights:Fougères' major monument is a medieval stronghold built atop a granite ledge, which was part of the ultimately unsuccessful defence system of the Duchy of Brittany against...
, Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine
Ille-et-Vilaine is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country.- History :Ille-et-Vilaine is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, the daughter of Julien Gauvain, a tailor, and Marie Marchandet, who was employed as a housemaid. She had two older sisters, Renee and Thérèse, and a brother Armand. She was orphaned from her mother a few months after her birth, and her father the following year, and was raised by her uncle, René Drouet. She was educated in Paris in a religious boarding school. She was a precocious child, having learned to read and write at the age of five; by the time she was ten, Gauvain was already proficient in literature and poetry. Around 1825, she became the mistress of sculptor James Pradier
James Pradier
James Pradier, also known as Jean-Jacques Pradier was a Swiss-born French sculptor best known for his work in the neoclassical style.-Life and work:...
, who represented her in a statue symbolizing Strasbourg, at the Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...
in Paris. They had a daughter together, Claire. On the advice of Pradier, she started an acting career in 1829, initially in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, then in Paris. It was around that time Gauvain began using her uncle's surname, Drouet.
Life As A Courtesan
Described by those who knew her as independent, impulsive and hot-tempered; she was also regarded by Parisian society as a typical courtesan who dressed splendidly,spent money wildly, and was extremely beautiful. Drouet had limpid, bright eyes; a fine,chiseled nose; a small,crimson mouth; set in an oval face, framed by a mass of blue-black hair.Victor Hugo
In 1833, while playing the role of Princess Négroni in Lucrèce BorgiaLucrèce Borgia
Lucrèce Borgia is a 1953 French drama film starring Martine Carol and Pedro Armendáriz. The film was directed by Christian-Jaque, who co-wrote screenplay with Cécil Saint-Laurent and Jacques Sigurd, based on novel by Alfred Schirokauer...
(see: Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
), she met Victor Hugo. She abandoned her theatrical career afterwards to dedicate her life to her lover. Her last stage role was of Lady Jane Grey in Hugo's Marie Tudor. She became Hugo's secretary and travelling companion. For many years she lived a cloistered life, leaving home only in his company. In 1852, she accompanied him in his exile on Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
, and then in 1855 on Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
. She wrote thousands of letters to him throughout her life, which testify to her writing talent according to Henri Troyat
Henri Troyat
Henri Troyat was a Russian born French author, biographer, historian and novelist.-Biography:Troyat was born Lev Aslanovich Tarasov, in Moscow to parents of mixed heritage, including Armenian, Russian, German and Georgian...
who wrote her biography in 1997.
Juliette Drouet died in Paris on 11 May 1883 at the age of seventy-seven.