Marie Duplessis

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watercolour of Marie Duplessis at the theatre, by Camille Roqueplan

Marie Duplessis [1] [2] (January 15, 1824 - February 3, 1847) was a French courtesan and mistress to a number of prominent and wealthy men. She is the basis of Marguerite Gautier, the main character of La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas the younger, one of Duplessis' lovers. Much of what is known about her has been mixed with the literary character and contemporary legends.

[edit] Early life

Marie Duplessis was born Rose Alphonsine Plessis in 1824 at Nonnant, Normandy, France. Her father became her de facto pimp when she was about 12 years old. At the age of 15 she moved to Paris where she found work in a dress shop.

As recorded in art of the day [3] Marie Duplessis was an extremely attractive young woman, with a petit figure and 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 courtesan at that age, and learned to read, write, and kept herself up on world events and crisis so as to be able to converse on those topics when at a social function. She had also added the faux noble "Du" to her name, to sound more like nobility.

[edit] Life as a courtesan

Duplessis was both a popular courtesan and a society hostess to a popular salon. Prominent authors and politicians attended her salon. She rode in the Bois de Boulogne and attended opera performances. She had her portrait painted by Edouard Vienot.

Duplessis was the mistress of Alexandre Dumas the younger, between September 1844 and August 1845. After that, she is believed to have become the mistress of composer Franz Liszt, who reportedly offered to live with her. Throughout her short life, her reputation as a discreet, intelligent and witty lover was well known. She remained popular and in good grace with many of her benefactors even after the relationships had ended.

Marie Duplessis died of tuberculosis at the age of 23 on February 5, 1847. Two of her former lovers, Swedish Count Von Stakelberg and French count Edouard de Perregaux, the latter of whom she had briefly married, were by her side. Within a few weeks of her death, her belongings were auctioned off to pay her debts. Still, her funeral in Montmartre cemetery was said to have been lavish, and attended by hundreds of people.

Dumas' romantic novel La Dame aux Camélias appeared within a year. In the book, Dumas became "Armand Duval" and Duplessis "Marguerite Gautier". Dumas also adapted his story to a play, which inspired Verdi's opera La Traviata numerous films (most of which are entitled Camille).