Louis de Bechamel facts for kids
Louis de Béchameil, also known as the Marquis de Nointel (born 1630, died 1703), was an important French businessman and a big supporter of the arts. He is famous for a creamy white sauce named after him.
Life of Louis de Béchameil
Louis de Béchameil was the son of Jean-Baptiste Béchameil. He became very wealthy by working as a tax farmer. This meant he collected taxes for the king. He also managed the household of the Duke of Orléans.
Louis de Béchameil was a high-ranking official called an intendant in Brittany and Tours. In 1697, he bought the noble title and land of Nointel. Later, he became the head steward for King Louis XIV. This meant he managed the king's household.
In 1680, Louis de Béchameil led a group that looked into how money was handled in Brittany. He wrote a report about problems and fraud they found. His work helped create a new law in 1681 to stop these issues. In 1698, he also wrote about the tax system.
Louis de Béchameil loved art. King Louis XIV asked him to start an art academy in Angers. He gave the first speech there and was its director. He also supported a famous artist named Watteau. Watteau painted beautiful designs for Béchameil's home in Paris. These paintings were likely for a small dining room.
Louis de Béchameil and his wife, Marie Colbert, had two children. Their names were Marie Louise Béchameil de Nointel and Louis Béchameil de Nointel.
Béchamel Sauce History
The famous white sauce we know today is named after Louis de Béchameil. However, he didn't invent it. An older version of this creamy sauce was first made by François Pierre de la Varenne. He was the cook for the Marquis d'Uxelles.
The sauce was named after Béchameil to flatter him. Another nobleman, the Duke of Escars, joked about it. He said, "That fellow Béchameil has all the luck!" He meant that he had been making similar creamy dishes for years but never got a sauce named after him.
See also
In Spanish: Louis de Béchameil para niños
