Marie Duplessis (born Alphonsine Rose Plessis; 15 January 1824 – 3 February 1847) was a French

courtesan A courtesan is a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele. Historically, the term referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other powerful person. History In European feudal society, the co ...

and

mistress Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to: Romance and relationships * Mistress (lover), a female lover of a married man ** Royal mistress * Maîtresse-en-titre, official mistress of a ...

to a number of prominent and wealthy men. She was the inspiration for Marguerite Gautier, the main character of the 1848 novel ''

La Dame aux Camélias ''The Lady of the Camellias'' (), sometimes called ''Camille'' in English, is a novel by Alexandre Dumas ''fils''. First published in 1848 and subsequently adapted by Dumas for the stage, the play premiered at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in P ...

'' by Alexandre Dumas the younger, one of Duplessis's lovers. Much of what is known about her has been derived from the

literary persona A persona (plural personae or personas) is a strategic mask of identity in public, the public image of one's personality, the social role that one adopts, or simply a fictional character. It is also considered "an intermediary between the indiv ...

and contemporary legends.

Early life

Marie Duplessis was born Alphonsine Rose Plessis in 1824 to Marin Plessis and Marie Plessis (née Deshayes) at Nonant-le-Pin, Normandy, France. At the age of 15, she moved to Paris, where she found work in a dress shop. As recorded in art of the day Marie Duplessis was evidently an extremely attractive young woman, with a petite figure and an enchanting smile. By the time she was 16, she had become aware that prominent men were willing to give her money in exchange for her company in both private and social settings. She became a

and learned to read and write, and to stay abreast of world events so as to be able to converse on these topics with her clients and at social functions. She also added the faux noble "Du" to her name.

Life as a courtesan

Duplessis was both a popular courtesan and the hostess of a

salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...

, where politicians, writers, and artists gathered for stimulating conversation and socializing. She rode in the

Bois de Boulogne The Bois de Boulogne (, "Boulogne woodland") is a large public park that is the western half of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, near the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine. The land was ceded to the city of Paris by the Em ...

and attended

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

performances. She also had her portrait painted by Édouard Viénot. Duplessis was the mistress of

Alexandre Dumas fils Alexandre Dumas (; 27 July 1824 – 27 November 1895) was a French author and playwright, best known for the romantic novel '' La Dame aux Camélias'' (''The Lady of the Camellias'', usually titled '' Camille'' in English-language versions), p ...

from September 1844 to August 1845. Afterward, she is believed to have become the mistress of composer

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

, who reportedly wished to live with her. In her short life, she gained a reputation as a discreet, intelligent, and witty lover. She remained in the good graces of many of her benefactors even after her relationships with them had ended. She was briefly married to at least one of her lovers: Count Édouard de Perregaux (1815-1889), a French nobleman and army officer.

Death

Marie Duplessis died of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

at the age of 23 on 3 February 1847. Her husband, the Comte de Perregaux, and her former lover, the

Baltic-German Baltic Germans ( or , later ) are ethnic German inhabitants of the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, in what today are Estonia and Latvia. Since their resettlement in 1945 after the end of World War II, Baltic Germans have drastically decli ...

count

Gustav Ernst von Stackelberg Graf Gustav Ernst von Stackelberg () (5 June 1766, Reval, Governorate of Estonia – 18 April 1850, Paris, France) was a Russian diplomat of Baltic-German descent, and was the son of Otto Magnus von Stackelberg. By birth, he was member of the ...

, were by her side. Within a few weeks of her death, her belongings were auctioned off to pay her debts. Her funeral in

Montmartre Cemetery The Cemetery of Montmartre () is a cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France, that dates to the early 19th century. Officially known as the Cimetière du Nord, it is the third largest necropolis in Paris, after the Père Lachaise Cemet ...

in Paris was attended by hundreds of people. Her tomb can be visited at the Montmartre cemetery.

Novel, play, and opera

Dumas's 1848 romantic novel ''

The Lady of the Camellias ''The Lady of the Camellias'' (), sometimes called ''Camille'' in English, is a novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, Alexandre Dumas ''fils''. First published in 1848 and subsequently Theatrical adaptation, adapted by Dumas for the Drama, stage, the pl ...

'' was based on Duplessis. It appeared within a year of her death. In the book, Dumas became Armand Duval, and Duplessis became Marguerite Gautier. Dumas also adapted his story as a 1852 play, which inspired

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for List of compositions by Giuseppe Verdi, his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma ...

's 1853 opera '' La traviata'' and various films. The journalist Romain Vienne was a childhood friend of hers and wrote ''La Vérité sur la dame aux camélias'' to correct some of the fictions that had grown up around her.Royal Opera House Programme note to ''Traviata'', 2019, p12 by Prof Rene Weis

References

Biographical Studies
''Daughter of Paris: The Diary of Marie Duplessis, France's Most Celebrated Courtesan,'' A. G. Mogan, 2019, The Question Mark Publishing
# ''The Real Traviata: The Song of Marie Duplessis'' by René Weis
''La verite sur la dame aux camelias'' by Romain Vienne
Citations {{DEFAULTSORT:Duplessis, Marie 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis 1824 births 1847 deaths Courtesans from Paris People from Orne Burials at Montmartre Cemetery Tuberculosis deaths in France French people of Norman descent French salon-holders