Marie-Anne Lenormand was a renowned card diviner and palm reader. She was born in 1772 and settled in Paris where she learned to read cards. Marie-Anne opened a "cabinet of divining" where for many years she was consulted by persons of all ranks, including the court of Napoleon I and Napoleon's first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais.
In 1807 Lenormand read Napoleon’s palm and predicted his eventual divorce, which Napoleon dismissed. He had her imprisoned for twelve days in 1809 while he finalised his divorce from Joséphine. This had an excellent effect on the fortune-teller’s career, making her one of the most sought after card readers of her time.
- TitleMlle. M. A. Lenormand
- Object numberB.M.851
- Collection
- Creator
- Production placeFrance
- School/styleFrench
- Object name
- Material
- Technique
- Dimensions
- Length: 45 cm
- Width: 35 cm
- Length: With Frame 63.5 cm
- Width: With Frame 53.8 cm
- Depth: With Frame 3 cm