Babette Cochois also known as Babet Cochois and Barbe Cochois (1723–1780) was a French

ballerina A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on yea ...

and writer, active in Prussia. Her parentage is unknown. She was the sister of the ballerina

Marianne Cochois Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty. Marianne is displayed ...

and the second cousin of

Marie Sallé Marie Sallé (1707–1756) was a French dancer and choreographer in the 18th century known for her expressive, dramatic performances rather than a series of "leaps and frolics" typical of ballet of her time. Biography Marie Sallé was a promine ...

. She was engaged at the French Royal Court Theatre of

Frederick the Great Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the Sil ...

in Prussia between 1743 and 1749. She was considered a leading artist, and was given the rare privilege by the king to reside in

Charlottenburg Palace Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) is a Baroque palace in Berlin, located in Charlottenburg, a district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough. The palace was built at the end of the 17th century and was greatly expanded during th ...

. In 1743, when the Berlin Opera was inaugurated, she made her debut there. In 1749 she married the French writer

Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens (24 June 1704 – 11 January 1771) was a French rationalist, author and critic of the Catholic church, who was a close friend of Voltaire and spent much of his life in exile at the court of Frederick the ...

. She retired as a ballerina, but became active as a writer. She has been the subject of poems and a famous painting by

Antoine Pesne Antoine Pesne () (29 May 1683 – 5 August 1757) was a French-born court painter of Prussia. Starting in the manner of baroque, he became one of the fathers of rococo in painting. His work represents a link between the French school and the F ...

. ;Works * ''Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de l'esprit et du cœur'', 1744 * ''Nouveaux mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de l'esprit et du coeur'', 1745 * ''Histoire de l'esprit et du coeur'', 1755 * ''Histoire de l'esprit humain'', 1765

References

*
Samlaren
', : Tidskrift utgifven af Svenska litteratursällskapets arbetsutskott, Utgåva 79–82 * Pierre Gaxotte,
Frederick the Great
' * Gustav Berthold Volz,
Der Grosse Konig
' *
Barocktheater und barocke Kunst: die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Fest- und Theater-Dekoration in ihrem Verhältnis zur barocken Kunst
' * Johann Wilhelm Ludewig Gleim,
Ausgewählte Werke
' * Gunilla Roempke (1994). Gunilla Roempke. red. Vristens makt – dansös i mätressernas tidevarv. Stockholm: Stockholm Fischer & company.
Barbe (genannt Babet oder Babette) Cochois, spätere Marquise d’Argens (1723 oder 1725-1780)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochois, Babette 1725 births 1780 deaths 18th-century French ballet dancers 18th-century French writers 18th-century Prussian women 18th-century Prussian people French ballerinas 18th-century French women writers