- Source: Mademoiselle Petitpas
Mademoiselle Petitpas (last name pronounced [pətiːpɑ]; c. 1710 - 24 October 1739) was a French comedian and operatic soprano.
Early life
Petitpas was born circa 1710 to a Parisian father (a locksmith) and an unknown mother.
Career
She debuted as a comedian in 1723 at the Saint-Germain fair, and soon after that at the Saint-Laurent fair's Comic Opera. In 1732, she meets a known financier, Joseph Bonnier de la Mosson, who was the general treasurer of Languedoc provinces and had the title of "Maréchal général des logis des camps et armées du roi" (translated as "Marshal General of the King's camps and armies," and later referred as "Marshal General of France"). She first moves into Bonnier's Hotel de Lude, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, and then later on in his castle in Montpellier, where many lavish parties were organised, despite the shock of the bishop of Montpellier Charles Colbert. After a brief stint as a performer in France, Mademoiselle Petitpas left for England. When she came back in April 1734, Petitpas was both acclaimed for her talents and the object of conversations due to her affair with Bonnier. In 1735, Colbert writes to Bonnier that everyone knows that he and Petitpas are living similarly to a married couple without being married. He continues by saying that no one can avoid Bonnier and Petitpas' sinful way of living. Finally, Colbert asked him to evict Mademoiselle Petitpas--which Bonnier was firmly against. However, because of the growing scandals and talks about their relationship, Bonnier and Petitpas left Montpellier for Paris. Bonnier's family opposed to the affair, but he was decided to marry Mademoiselle Petitpas nonetheless. He prepared in her honour a lavish feast in Plaine Saint-Denis, where a ballet was to be performed. Unfortunately Mademoiselle Petitpas was not able to join.
Death
Aged 30, she died of phtisis in Paris on 24 October 1739 and was buried in Saint-Eustache.
