19th Century Salons
A salon was a gathering among the upper class in Europe, emerging in Renaissance Italy, gaining popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries and flourishing in the 19th century. The host of a salon was usually an aristocratic woman of high education. In the salon, participants discussed topics including literature, art, music, drama and current issues, making it a location for the upper class to exchange information and make acquaintances. To visualize the exquisite decoration required of a salon host, a luxurious salon scene is restored in detail in this exhibition.