Concept Blog #2- The Most Scintillating Conversation in the World-

"Reading from Moliere" Jean Francois de Troy, 1728

The Age of Enlightenment brought about many radical ideas, one of them being the right to free thought and the exchange of those ideas.  But what good are new ideas if there is no place to talk about them with your peers?  So now at this time enters an important new concept, the Salon.  The Salon was a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring hostess for entertainment, conversation, and the perpetuation of the exchange of free thought.  Salon's started as small social gatherings at someones home and by the Eighteenth century had become an institution in France as well as one of the major modes of communication among the intellectual community.



The Salon was a place where women could also discuss ideas and receive an informal "education" that prior to that time was denied to them.  Women were placed  into the position of the salonnierre, she was in charge of selecting the guests, topic of discussion, and mediation of the direction of the discussion.  In a male dominant world a woman could become a powerful influence within the Salon and help to further the Enlightenment without fear of persecution.

"A Reading in the salon of Mme. Geoffrin", 1755

One if the most well-known salonnierres was Madame de Tencin.  Madame de Tencin had a scandalous past that fascinated many.  To gain an invitation to her salon was highly sought after.  She was formerly a nun and was reputed to have been the mistress of several powerful men such as King Louis XV's best friend, the Maréchal de Richelieu, and also the  Cardinal Dubois, the prime minister of France.  She established the first literary salon on Paris.  She shrewdly allowed the first foreign visitors to her salon, distinguished men from England.

Madame de Tencin

 
Another famous salonnierre was Madame Geofrrin, she was the infamous patroness of a Parisian salon.  She was trained for her role in the salon by Madame de Tencin.  She was said to have played hostess to the most important Philosophes and Encyclopedistes of the Enlightenment.  Not only did her salon cater to the intellectual men of the time she also was a patron of the arts.  Her place in the furthering of the Enlightenment is paramount for she is one of only a handful of women to participate in its momentum.

Madame Geoffrin

Sadly, I know that the French salon no longer exists.  Throughout history there is an occurrence of resurgences of the salon in metropolitan areas but it is never the same as 18th century France.  I believe that the salon is still alive in the twenty-first century as the Internet!  It is basically the same concept a place where there is free thought (sometimes too free, but you can't give it to one and not all!) and the exchange of ideas.  You can find many people who share the same ideas and that will also listen to yours.  The variety of information and opinion is endless.  The only thing missing is the educated and beautiful salonnierre.