Briche, Adelaide de la (1755–1844)

views updated

Briche, Adelaide de la (1755–1844)

French memoirist, travel writer and salonnière. Name variations: Madame de La Briche; Adélaïde Edmée Prévost de la Briche. Born Adélaïde-Edmée Prévost, Sept 12, 1755, in Nancy, France; died Jan 29, 1844, in Paris; dau. of Bon Prévost, receveur general of the farms of Lorraine; m. Alexis Janvier de La Live de La Briche (secretair honoraire des commandements to Marie Antoinette and brother of Sophie, comtesse d'Houdetot), 1780 (died 1785).

Settled in Paris (1765); traveled in Switzerland, Italy, England, and Scotland and wrote memoir Les Voyages en Suisse de Mme de la Briche 1785–1832 (1935); held popular salon for 50 years and was the subject of a painting by Elisabeth Vigée-Le Brun.