THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT - Le Salon De Madame Geoffrin (english)

About the Age of Enlightenment...

From the early eighteenth century, new ideas were spreading in Europe. Symbolized by the metaphor of the transition from darkness to light, they were based on a free reflection, enlightened by reason. Thinkers imagined other forms of political regimes and scientists pierced many secrets of the universe. So where does this thought of enlightenment come from? In Germany, Italy and England; the thought of enlightenment flourished in France but grew at the same time in major Western countries. It raised the real European conscience. – "There is no more the French, the Germans, the Spanish nor the English today, no matter what people say; there's no one but the Europeans."(Rousseau)
What are the risks for the kingdom? Enlightenment philosophers argue for freedom of opinion and aspire justice, equality and freedom–utopian wishes in an absolute monarchy. Prior to imagine a republican ideal, they take as models despots like Frederic II in Berlin, Catherine II in St. Petersburg or Joseph II in Vienna.

*Another point: what is the Encyclopedia? According to the spirit of Enlightenment culture should be brought to the attention of all and learned by all with/by popular and known publications. The most famous Encyclopedia is the 35 volumes of Diderot** and d'Alembert, whose first edition first appeared in 1751. The two founders employed 150 Authors of Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire. It was a European success: 25000 of first edition sold in the continent.

**Who is Denis Diderot, why is he important? (XVIII th Century) Founder and director of the Encyclopedia for over twenty years, Denis Diderot wanted to produce a revolution in the minds by spreading new ideas. Writer and philosopher, he wrote many articles. His reputation soon outgrew its borders: he was called by Catherine II to advise her on the government.

Now let's see about this certain painting:

Name: Le Salon De Madame Geoffrin

Artist: Anicet-Charles-Gabriel Lemonnier (1743–1824)

Dimensions: 129.5 × 196 cm

Medium: Oil on canvas

Current location: Musée national du Château de Malmaison

The new way of thinking is propagated in cultured circles through learned societies, academies and salons. Sponsor of the Encyclopedists*, Madame Geoffrin, welcomes artists, scientists and philosophers twice a week in her home from 1749 to her death in 1777.

Also in the painting from left to right Rousseau, Choiseul, (the bust of) Voltaire, d'Alembert, Diderot, Turgot and Madame Geoffrin herself can be spotted. 

(Back row, left to right: Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Pierre de Marivaux, Jean-François Marmontel, Joseph-Marie Vien, Antoine Léonard Thomas, Charles Marie de La Condamine, Guillaume Thomas François Raynal, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Jean-Philippe Rameau, La Clairon, Charles-Jean-François Hénault, Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, a bust of Voltaire, Charles-Augustin de Ferriol d'Argental, Jean François de Saint-Lambert, Edmé Bouchardon, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville, Anne Claude de Caylus, Fortunato Felice, François Quesnay, Denis Diderot, Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, Baron de Laune, Chrétien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes, Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, Pierre Louis Maupertuis, Jean-Jacques Dortous de Mairan, Henri François d'Aguesseau, Alexis Clairaut.

Front row, right to left: Montesquieu, Sophie d'Houdetot, Claude Joseph Vernet, Bernard Le Bouyer de Fontenelle, Marie-Thérèse Rodet Geoffrin, Louis François, Prince of Conti, Duchesse d'Anville, Philippe Jules François Mancini, François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, Claude Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, Alexis Piron, Charles Pinot Duclos, Claude-Adrien Helvétius, Charles-André van Loo, Jean le Rond d'Alembert, Lekain at the desk reading aloud, Jeanne Julie Éléonore de Lespinasse, Anne-Marie du Boccage, René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur, Françoise de Graffigny, Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, Bernard de Jussieu, Louis-Jean-Marie Daubenton, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon)

-hande