Rétaux de Villette
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Rétaux de Villette was born in France in the late 18th century. The scion of a poor family, he was forced to become a gigolo to survive, but Villette also had a talent for forgery. While plying his trade as a prostitute, he greatly developed his talent as a forger, using it to write letters in his patrons' name for sums of money greater than were owed for his services.
The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
Through an intimate relationship with Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, the pair staged a scandal involving a diamond necklace. This famous "Affair of the Diamond Necklace" made history in France. Villette played the role of forger, writing letters to Jeanne in the hand of Queen Marie Antoinette, making it seem as if the Queen desired the necklace, but was unable to purchase it due to reluctance on the part of the King, Louis XVI. These letters were presented in turn to Cardinal Rohan, persuading him to buy the necklace for the Queen, or so he thought. After the necklace was purchased by Rohan and given to Jeanne to pass along to the queen, she and Villette immediately took off to London and began selling the jewels from the necklace for their own profit. The scheme was eventually exposed and all those involved were prosecuted.
Later life
As punishment for his involvement in the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, Villette was exiled from France. He took up residence in Italy where he lived out the rest of his days, eventually dying of natural causes.
