Born as Marie-Jeanne Bécu (1743-1793), she became the Countess du Barry (or Bary) through marriage and was one of the official mistresses of King Louis XV of France. Her figure inspired numerous artists, notably Augustin Pajou (1730-1809), a French neoclassical sculptor and the creator of this bust, which established his reputation as an exceptional portraitist of the female form. Busts of Madame du Barry by Pajou can still be admired today in some of the world’s most important museums.
This piece is part of the Fine Arts Collection of the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo.
