Jeanne Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes facts for kids

Jeanne Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes, also known as the Countess of Verua, was a French noblewoman born in Paris in 1670. She became a very important and influential person at the court of the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II, in Italy. She was known for her intelligence, her love for art and books, and her famous collection of treasures.

Quick facts for kids Jeanne Baptiste
Countess of Verua
Spouse(s)	Giuseppe Ignazio Scaglia, Conte di Verua
Detail Issue
Maria Vittoria, Princess of Carignan
Full name
Jeanne Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes
Noble family	House of Scaglia House of Albret
Father	Louis Charles d'Albert de Luynes
Mother	Anne de Rohan
Born	(1670-01-18)18 January 1670 Hôtel de Luynes, Paris, France
Died	18 November 1736(1736-11-18) (aged 66) Paris, France

Early Life and Marriage

Jeanne Baptiste was born on January 18, 1670, in Paris, France. Her father was Louis Charles d'Albert, Duke of Luynes. Her mother was Princess Anne de Rohan-Montbazon. She was one of six children.

She was named after her godfather, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a very important minister to King Louis XIV. Jeanne Baptiste received her education at the famous Abbey of Port-Royal in Paris.

In 1683, when she was just thirteen years old, she married Joseph Ignace Scaglia, the Count of Verua. Her husband was a military officer and a diplomat for the Duke of Savoy. He was described as "young, handsome, rich, and honest."

Life at the Savoyard Court

Jeanne Baptiste and her husband moved to Turin, the capital of Savoy (now part of Italy). They had four children together.

The Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II, became very interested in Jeanne Baptiste. At first, she did not encourage his attention. However, the Duchess of Savoy and even King Louis XIV of France encouraged her to accept the Duke's advances.

In 1689, Jeanne Baptiste became a close companion of the Duke. They had two children together. Their daughter, Maria Vittoria, was born in 1690. Their son, Vittorio Francesco, was born in 1694. He later received the title Marquis of Susa.

Jeanne Baptiste became very influential at the Savoyard court. She even tried to get involved in politics. For example, she supported the marriage of the Duke's eldest daughter, Princess Maria Adelaide, to the grandson of King Louis XIV.

In 1704, her husband, Count Joseph Ignace Scaglia, died during the Battle of Blenheim.

Return to Paris and Influence

In 1700, Jeanne Baptiste returned to Paris, France, without her two children from the Duke. She brought with her a large fortune.

She was known for her intelligence and charm. She became a well-known figure in Parisian society. She was good friends with important people like Monsieur le Duc, who would later become the Prime Minister of France.

Jeanne Baptiste was very interested in art, science, and philosophy. She corresponded with famous thinkers like Voltaire. She had a large collection of art and valuable objects that she had gathered in Turin. She bought a large house in Paris, the Hôtel d'Hauterive, to display her collection. She even bought the neighboring property to house her relatives.

Her Famous Salon

Jeanne Baptiste hosted a popular "salon" in Paris. A salon was a gathering where important people, like writers, philosophers, and artists, would meet to discuss ideas. Many famous people attended her salon, including the Abbé Terrasson and the Marquis de Lassay.

During a period known as the Regency, Jeanne Baptiste greatly increased her wealth. This was thanks to a financial plan called the Système de Law, created by a Scottish economist named John Law.

With her increased fortune, she ordered the construction of two new townhouses in Paris. One of these houses, though later demolished, was connected to the famous Alfred Dreyfus case. Jeanne Baptiste herself lived at another house, the hôtel d'Aubeterre, where she expanded a gallery to show off her amazing art collection. This gallery was painted by Claude Audran III and can still be seen today at the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris.

Jeanne Baptiste died in Paris in 1736 at the age of 66. She was very generous in her will, even leaving things for her pet birds! Her epitaph, a short text on her tombstone, said:

Her Collections

Madame de Verrue's collection was famous for its paintings by old masters, beautiful objects, and expensive furniture. She was always adding to it, buying jewelry, precious stones (over 8,000!), tapestries, and clothes.

She was also very interested in architecture and buildings. In 1713, she bought a house in Meudon, near Paris. She then hired famous architects to rebuild it. She owned paintings by well-known artists like Nicolas Lancret and Antoine Watteau. She even had a portrait of Charles I of England by Anthony van Dyck.

Jeanne Baptiste was also one of the greatest book collectors of her time. She had a huge library with about 18,000 books in Paris and at her house in Meudon. Sadly, this vast private library was sold off after her death in 1737, and only about 3,000 books remained together.

Her daughter, Maria Vittoria, married the Prince of Carignan in 1714. Through this marriage, Jeanne Baptiste became an ancestor of several important historical figures, including the Princesse de Lamballe and even the present Prince Napoléon.

Portrayals

• Dumas. Alexandre, 1863, La Dame de Volupté; Mémoires de Jeanne d'Albert de Luynes, Comtesse de Verrue, Paris.

Issue

With her husband, Giuseppe Ignazio Scaglia, Jeanne Baptiste had four children:

• Anna Maria Angelica Scaglia (1684 – 1745), who became an abbess.
• Vittorio Amedeo Scaglia (1686 – 1707).
• Maria Anna Scaglia (1687 – 1745), who also became an abbess.
• Carlo Augusto Scaglia (1688 – 1706).

With Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy, Jeanne Baptiste had two children:

• Maria Vittoria Francesca of Savoy (1690 – 1766), who married Victor Amadeus, Prince of Carignan in 1714.
• Vittorio Francesco Filippo of Savoy (1694 - 1762), Marquis of Susa, who married Maria Lucrezia Franchi di Pont but had no children.