Color Collisions: A Honeydew Hello to Madame Pompadour Rose
A Power Play of Pastel and Pink
When I was trying to find the right reference for the pink I had in my mind’s eye this month, I came across a new-to-me hue, Pompadour Rose. Having just finished a book on the Madame herself recently, this, of course, piqued my particular interest. And the honeydew color choice, I must own, is likely inspired by my delight at seeing melons back at the market this month. I like to imagine Madame Pompadour savoring some honeydew on one of her original Sèvres porcelain pieces, but I’ll leave that to the imagination.
In the 2015 movie A Little Chaos there is a brilliant scene where Kate Winslet’s character unwittingly finds herself in conversation with King Louis XV played to perfection by Alan Rickman. Mistaking an off-duty king for the King’s gardener, and smelling what she believes to be his roses, she remarks “Divine. Good color, too.” It’s all an elaborate fiction, but it carries me away every time all the same. I’m also here to paint a picture for you. So whether you are craving melons like me, or absolutely uninterested in this pairing, might you least let me entertain you?
Pompadour Rose
First, let me introduce you to the Madame, the mistress of Louis XV, born Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson in the year 1721. When King Louis XV first encountered her in March 1745, she was said to have been dressed in pink—how apt. It would take another 12 years for her love of pink to be solidified in history.
You see, Madame de Pompadour was no everyday mistress; she had a passion for the arts and was said to have been “endowed with good taste.” From producing plays to supporting writers and philosophers like Voltaire, Madame de Pompadour had a seemingly unbridled creative spirit. She made and undid fashions; thus, it is no surprise that Pompadour Rose, or "pink," quickly came into vogue. It was a color that defined luxury at the time—pink being a favorite pigment employed by famed Rococo artists like Fragonard in works of art and the frocks donned by the most fabulous members of society.
Madame Pompadour commissioned a pink porcelain service from Sèvres, and in her honor the manufacturer named the new color Rose Pompadour. During this period at Sèvres it was the chemist Jean Hellot who was responsible for the innovative palette that defined 18th century Sèvres. This rosy hue was described in records from the Sèvres factory as, "a very fresh and very pleasant pink." Perhaps this is what made Rose Pompadour so luxurious, it reflected not only an era, but a fresh power play. Pompadour was not born into the world a part of the aristocracy, but she left it a king’s favorite. How much more influence and power can one have? The simple fact that more than two centuries later we’re surrounded by Pompadour roses and Houses like Dior are creating products using a Pompadour Rose hue says it all.
Honeydew
Well, I have to admit this hue isn’t in any of my color dictionaries or reference books. However, just as the masters of pigment like Werner used color names from plants and fauna—Leek Green and Lemon Yellow, to name a few—I think it’s only fair we play with Honeydew.
This melon’s origin story is a bit muddled, but it is believed to have Middle Eastern or Asian origins, having been cultivated since ancient times in the Middle East. They were a sacred food of the Egyptians and made their debut in Europe in the late 15th century. This means Honeydew was very likely decorating the tables of King Louis XV and our grand dame, Madame de Pompadour.
I’ve included a little still from A Little Chaos, where Kate Winslet sports what seems to be a perfectly honeydew-hued silk shawl. The pigment itself is a pastel green that is both calming and refreshing. With its warm undertones, it’s a versatile hue that brightens any space. The color name “Honey Dew” as a green reference first appeared in the early 20th century, coinciding with pastel fashion trends made popular by another famed French woman, Coco Chanel. Chanel was one of the first fashion designers to present an entirely pastel collection. Ladies and gents, get in line.
Materials & Paint Picks
Now, how to pull off this daring duo? As always, I’ve sourced some paints for you to play with that evoke this color1 beautifully. For Pompadour Rose, look no further than Farrow & Ball’s Rangwali—the perfect punch of pink, if I may say so. If you want another choice, Benjamin Moore’s Pink Ladies feels like it would have Pompadour’s blessing. For Honeydew, we have Sherwin-Williams’ Honeydew, of course, and CLARE’s High Vibe green paint is bound to up the vibes in any room.
Wild maybe, but I love the idea of painting an entire room in Rangwali, with the ceiling and a portion of the top part of the walls in that Honeydew High Vibe. Anyone else?
For me, the Villa Medici model is something to behold. In the vein of the Studiolo of Ferdinando de Medici, I would drench the walls in a Honeydew paint hue and then drape them with a half wall of Pompadour Rose-hued silk curtains, inspired by Villa de Medici. I think Jeanette would approve. Don’t you?
Maximalists are always welcome here, but I would also love to see these pigments paired in more subtle ways. For a more subtle application, why not style a living room with a warm ivory sofa, a grounding Honeydew rug, and some pops of Pompadour with your accent pillows? I am loving these fun Bomboloni Velours Pillows from The Socialite Family. I’m also letting the vision of a table dressed in Honeydew green linens and decked with Pompadour Rose pink Sèvres dishware rest rent-free in my mind. Doesn’t the thought of Madame Pompadour hosting a dinner party feel just right?
End Scene
So there you have it—another collision of color for your consideration. I love how two colors I might never naturally reach for could be so powerful when paired. I wonder if there are any colors you love that you can’t imagine bringing together in a space. Tell me in the comments, and I promise to paint the picture for you in a future collision.
If you are looking for more inspiration, check out this pinterest board where you’ll find even more ideas and inspiration. And if you dare to decorate with this dynamic duo, do let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear how it turned out.
A little ask…
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You may note these colors appear to differ in hue. I remind you as with any color, the shade of it and it’s vibrancy shifts depending on the application, the texture, and how the light illuminates a space.