Marie Louise Jeanne Peyrat (1840–1923), better known as the Marquise Arconati Visconti, was a French

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

salonnière A salon is a gathering of people held by an inspiring host. During the gathering they amuse one another and increase their knowledge through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "ei ...

and art collector. She is remembered for donating the outstanding Italian artworks she had inherited from her husband to the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

. Items from her own collection of art, furniture and jewellery from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were donated principally to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the

Musée Carnavalet The Musée Carnavalet in Paris is dedicated to the history of the city. The museum occupies two neighboring mansions: the Hôtel Carnavalet and the former Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint Fargeau. On the advice of Baron Haussmann, the civil servant wh ...

. Her salon attracted prominent politicians and academics who introduced her to

Alfred Dreyfus Alfred Dreyfus ( , also , ; 9 October 1859 – 12 July 1935) was a French artillery officer of Jewish ancestry whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most polarizing political dramas in modern French history. ...

, with whom she developed a lengthy correspondence.

Biography

Born in Paris on 26 December 1840, Marie-Louise-Jeanne Peyrat was the daughter of journalist and politician Alphonse Jean Peyrat (1812–1890) and his wife Marie Pauline Thérèse née Risch. Her father brought her up as a dedicated Republican with an interest in literature, history and politics. As she grew older, Peyrat attended lectures at the

Collège de France The Collège de France (), formerly known as the ''Collège Royal'' or as the ''Collège impérial'' founded in 1530 by François I, is a higher education and research establishment (''grand établissement'') in France. It is located in Paris ne ...

and at the

École des Chartes École may refer to: * an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée) * École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France * École, Sav ...

. There she fell in love with Gianmartino Arconati Visconti, who was studying painting. From the Milan aristocracy, he was the son of Italian politician Giuseppe Arconati Visconti (1797–1873), who had to leave his country in 1821 as a collaborator of the supposed nationalist

Federico Confalonieri Count Federico Confalonieri (1785 – 10 December 1846) was an Italian revolutionist. Biography Confalonieri was born at Milan, descended from a noble Lombard family. In 1806 he married Teresa Casati. During the Napoleonic period Confalonieri ...

. Despite objections from the Arconati family, Marie-Louise married Gianmartino in November 1873. The couple moved to Italy where Gianmartino died three years later in February 1876. As a result, she inherited a huge fortune, which included Italian art treasures and a number of luxurious properties in Belgium, France and Italy. She settled in Paris but also spent the autumns at

Gaasbeek Castle Gaasbeek Castle ( nl, Kasteel van Gaasbeek, french: Château de Gaesbeek) is a castle located in Lennik, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Nowadays, it serves as a national museum. History The fortified castle was erected around 1240 to defend the ...

in Belgium. She used the fortune she had acquired to add to her art collection while providing support for libraries, museums and higher education institutions. While in Paris, Arconati Visconti held a well-attended salon at her villa on rue Barbet-de-Jouy. Her guests on Thursdays included progressive politicians such as

Jean Jaurès Auguste Marie Joseph Jean Léon Jaurès (3 September 185931 July 1914), commonly referred to as Jean Jaurès (; oc, Joan Jaurés ), was a French Socialist leader. Initially a Moderate Republican, he later became one of the first social demo ...

Aristide Briand Aristide Pierre Henri Briand (; 28 March 18627 March 1932) was a French statesman who served eleven terms as Prime Minister of France during the French Third Republic. He is mainly remembered for his focus on international issues and reconciliat ...

Raymond Poincaré Raymond Nicolas Landry Poincaré (, ; 20 August 1860 – 15 October 1934) was a French statesman who served as President of France from 1913 to 1920, and three times as Prime Minister of France. Trained in law, Poincaré was elected deputy in 1 ...

and

Léon Gambetta Léon Gambetta (; 2 April 1838 – 31 December 1882) was a French lawyer and republican politician who proclaimed the French Third Republic in 1870 and played a prominent role in its early government. Early life and education Born in Cahors, Ga ...

, who brought her attention to the

Dreyfus case The Dreyfus affair (french: affaire Dreyfus, ) was a political scandal that divided the French Third Republic from 1894 until its resolution in 1906. "L'Affaire", as it is known in French, has come to symbolise modern injustice in the Francop ...

. She subsequently became a fanatical supporter of Dreyfus. On Tuesday evenings, she invited art experts for dinner, one of whom, art collector Raoul Duseigneur, became a lifelong friend. It was Duseigneur who advised her on the paintings, sculptures and furniture she should acquire for her collection. During her lifetime, she made numerous donations of artefacts to the museums of Paris in addition to providing financial support for libraries and educational institutions. Marie-Louise Arconati-Visconti died on 3 May 1923 in Paris. She left her remaining fortune to the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

, to which she had already made a large donation a few years earlier to create its

Institut d'Art et d'Archéologie The Institut d'Art et d'Archéologie is a building at 3 rue Michelet in Paris, built for the educational institution of the same name (French for "Institute of Art and Archaeology"). It was initially designed in 1920 in a unique eclectic style by ...

. She is buried in the cemetery of

Rives, Isère Rives () is a commune in the Isère department in southeastern France. Population Access By road: By motorway (A48) or the Départemental Road, the D1085, between Lyon and Grenoble By train: The TER Lyon Perrache/Saint André le Gaz/Grenoble l ...

, close to her companion Raoul Duseigneur, who had died in 1916.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arconati-Visconti, Marie-Louise 1840 births 1923 deaths Socialites from Paris French patrons of the arts French salon-holders École du Louvre alumni Art collectors from Paris French women philanthropists