September 23, 1780

Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand (1697 to September 23, 1780) the subject of today's post, was a member of the French aristocracy. Her marital situation may have been typical then, since she was married to a marquis for whom she had no love. She was educated and famed for her wit. After a separation from her husband in 1722 her career included hosting a salon to which French intellectuals were welcomed.

Here are two of her cats, drawn by Charles-Nicolas Cochin.



Perhaps the interior is an accurate glimpse of an upper class French interior of the 18th century. In her latter years Deffand lived in a convent. This is not so confining as we might assume, and interesting for the light it casts on the living options then for wealthy women without husbands. Deffand had apartments in the convent of Saint-Joseph in the rue Saint-Dominique. Her suite had a separate entrance on the street, and of course the fame of her salon there was not affected by the surrounding convent.

We assume the interior depicted above was accurate. Certainly the cats cannot be. Their stances are not feline but those dogs might adopt in a dominance struggle.