Catherine of Rambouillet

The marchioness of Rambouillet , born Catherine de Vivonne (Rome 1588 - Paris 1665), was a woman of exception which held at the 17th century the first famous Parisian living room in its hotel (the Hôtel of Rambouillet, located at Paris with the current site of the Palais Royal).

Because of its precarious health and manners of the Court, it decides to attract at it the large world. It is interested in arts, with the letters; she likes the history and speaks several languages.

She holds a living room very shining, with the assistance of her daughter Julie (1607-1671), in the honor of which one composed the Guirlande of Julie , until the marriage of this one (1645) with the Duc of Montausier, and the death of Vincent Voiture in 1648.

Its living room exerted a great influence on the French language and the literature of time. Although Molière scoffed the manners of familiar of this medium in Invaluable ridiculous the , the invaluable ones nevertheless played a very important part in the renewal of the French vocabulary.

This living room was one of rare to give the honor to the women, contrary to the other living rooms massively attended by men. With this intention, Madam de Rambouillet had enrégimenté a squadron of young girls of the best birth who decorated the meetings by their spirit and their charm.

Called Arthénice , anagram composed by Malherbe, it appears under the features of Cléomire in Artamène or Large Cyrus , of Madeleine and Georges de Scudéry, Cyrus being itself Enghien, the Grand Cop.

Among accustomed hotel of Rambouillet, one can quote:

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