Autié Léonard - Marie Antoinettes head: the royal hairdresser, the queen, and the revolution

Ma RIE A NTOINETTES H EAD

M ARIE A NTOINETTES H EAD

The Royal Hairdresser, the Queen, and the Revolution

W ILL B ASHOR

LYONS PRESS

Guilford, Connecticut

An imprint of Globe Pequot Press

As always, for Norma Blanche, Bertina Faye, and Randall Scott

Copyright 2013 by Will Bashor

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Lyons Press is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press.

All images public domain unless otherwise noted.

Family tree on p. vii by the author.

Map on pp. viiiix by William R. Shepherd, Historical Atlas (NY: Henry Holt, 1911), 149.

Project editor: Meredith Dias

Layout: Casey Shain

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bashor, Will.

Marie Antoinettes head : the royal hairdresser, the queen, and the revolution / Will Bashor.

pages cm

Summary: For the better part of the Queen Marie Antoinettes reign over France, one man was entrusted with the sole responsibility of ensuring that her coiffure was at its most ostentatious best. Marie Antoinettes Head tells the story of Leonard Autie, Marie Antoinettes hairdresser and confidante, the man responsible for the style that made her the envy of France and for the uproar that dragged her to the guillotine Provided by publisher.

E-ISBN 978-1-4930-0118-7 (ePub)

1. Auti, Lonard, 1751?-1820. 2. Marie Antoinette, Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France, 1755-1793. 3. Marie Antoinette, Queen, consort of Louis XVI, King of France, 1755-1793Friends and associates. 4. FranceHistoryLouis XVI, 1774-1793. 5. FranceHistoryRevolution1789-1799. 6. FranceCourt and courtiersBiography. I. Title.

DC137.19.B37 2013

944'.035092dc23

[B]

2013019803

C ONTENTS

C HRONOLOGY

1746Lonard Alexis Auti born in Pamiers

1753Pierre Auti, Lonards brother, born in Pamiers on July 22

1758Jean-Franois Auti, Lonards brother, also known as Lonard, born in Pamiers

1762Jean-Pierre Auti, Lonards cousin, also known as Villanou, born on April 4

1769Lonard arrives in Paris

1770Marie Antoinette arrives at the Palace of Versailles

1774Death of Louis XV; Louis and Marie Antoinette inherit the thrones

1778Marie Antoinette gives birth to her first child

1779Lonard is hairdresser to Marie Antoinette

1785The Necklace Affair

1788Lonard, having made his fortune, obtains permission for Thtre de Monsieur

1789Womens March on Versailles; Lonard is financially ruined

1791The Auti brothers participate in the royal familys Flight to Varennes

1791Lonard leaves for London, December 27; his wife divorces him three years later

1792Lonard departs for Germany

1793Marie Antoinette executed

1794Alleged conviction and execution of Jean-Franois on July 25

1798Destitute, Lonard returns to hairdressing in the Czar of Russias court

1801Czar Paul of Russia dies

1814Lonard permitted to return to Paris by Bourbon monarchy

1818Lonard seeks privilege to open a new theater

1820Lonard dies in Paris on March 24

C AST OF H ISTORICAL C HARACTERS

DAiguillon, Duke (17201788). French general exiled for his notorious relationship with Madame du Barry.

Alexander I (17771825) . Czar of Russia (18011825).

DAngoulme, Duke (17751844). Louis Antoine dArtois, son of the Count of Artois. Last Dauphin of France (1824 1830).

Arnould, Sophie (17401802). Famous actress and singer of the French stage.

Artois, Count of (17571836). Youngest brother of Louis XVI. King Charles X (18241830). Last Bourbon ruler of France.

Auti, Jean-Franois (1758?). Lonards brother and second hairdresser to Marie Antoinette.

Auti, Lonard Alexis (17461820). Royal hairdresser, valet, and confidant to Queen Marie Antoinette.

Auti, Pierre (1753-1814?). Lonards brother and hairdresser to Madame lisabeth, Louis XVIs sister.

DAvaray, Duke (17591811). Antoine Louis Franois de Bsiade, favorite of Louis XVIII.

Bailly, Jean Sylvain (17361793). First mayor of Paris in 1792.Guillotined in 1793 for defending Marie Antoinette.

Balbi, Countess (17851852). Anne Jacob de Caumont la Force. Presumed mistress of Louis XVIII.

Barras, Paul Franois (17551829). Deputy of the Convention; he voted for the death of Louis XVI.

Bault, Monsieur. Served as concierge of Marie Antoinettes prison with his wife.

Beaumarchais, Pierre (17321799). Playwright whose best-known work was Le Barbier de Sville.

Bertin, Marie-Jean Rose (17471813). Milliner and dress designer to Queen Marie Antoinette.

Bezenval, Baron Pierre (17221794). Last commander of the Swiss Guards.

Blache, alias Dumas. Spy sent to London to keep watch over Madame du Barry.

Boehmer and Bassenge. Parisian jewelers who created the notorious diamond necklace.

Bouill, Marquis de (17391800). French general who helped plan the royal familys flight to Varennes.

Breteuil, Baron de Preuilly (17301807). Last prime minister of Louis XVI.

Busne, Franois de. Knight of the Legion of Honor who was Marie Antoinettes last bodyguard.

Calonne, Charles-Alexandre de (17341802). Statesman responsible for the economic crisis of 1789.

Campan, Jeanne-Louise-Henriette (17521822). Marie Antoinettes lady-in-waiting from 1774 to 1792.

Choiseul-Stainville, Duke of (17601838). French colonel who assisted in the kings flight to Varennes.

Coigny, Franois-Henri (17371821). Soldier who served against the Republic in the Revolutionary Wars.

Cond, Prince of (17361818). Royal who left France to lead the counter-revolutionary army.

Dillon, douard. Marie Antoinettes favorite, known for his handsomeness.

Drouet, Jean-Baptiste. Postmaster of Ste. Menehould who helped capture the king in Varennes.

Du Barry, Madame (17431793). The last favorite of Louis XV; she was guillotined on December 8, 1793.

Duth, Mademoiselle. Opera dancer and courtesan at the end of the eighteenth century.

lisabeth of France, Madame (17641794). Princess and younger sister of Louis XVI.

Feodorovna, Maria (17591828). Empress of Russia and wife of Paul I.

Fersen, Hans Axel de (17551810). Swedish count and presumed lover of Marie Antoinette.

Frmont. Lonards friend and partner of the Acadmie de Coiffure.

Gluck, Christoph Willibald von (17141787). German composer who taught Marie Antoinette the harpsichord.

Gumne, Princesse de (17431807). French aristocrat and governess of Marie Antoinettes children.

Guimard, Marie Madeleine (17431816). Star ballerina of the French opera and wealthy socialite.

Joseph II of Austria (17411790). Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790. Marie Antoinettes brother.

Julien. Lonards assistant, also known as the handsome Julien.