The women’s patronage in France in the 18th century : old patterns and new ideas

The aim of the paper is to analyze various forms of women’s patronage in the 18th century France, taking into account the social and material position of women. In the Enlightenment period, women benefited from best practices promoted by the royal court, successive queens and royal favorites. The development taking place in the 18th century not only intensified intellectual life, but also slightly modified the place of women in the society. As a result, women became an indispensable part of the Enlightenment culture, occupying an important place in literary salons. At the same time, they continued their traditional patronage activity, expanding its spectrum and possibilities in line with the spirit of the epoch.