Page 42 - All About History - Issue 72-18
P. 42
University of Wife
From Diane de Poitiers to Anne Boleyn, how the French court groomed a
generation of Europe’s most men
m
Written by Melanie Clegg
or hundreds of years the copied elsewhere – in much the same
French court was a byword is nowadays thanks to books that
for sophistication, fashion and claim to teach us how to be more ‘Parisian’.
magnificence, attracting the While French clothes, art, perfume and other
Fbrightest and best from all over luxury items would always be sought after
Europe. Writers, intellectuals, philosophers by those keen to buy themselves a piece of
and artists all flocked to France to seek that covetable Parisian sophistication, French
employment and inspiration, their efforts women themselves, products of a system
adding to the prestige of the French monarchy deliberately designed to make them as graceful
and the opulent court that they presided over. and cultivated as possible, were the best
Throughout the rest of Europe French style ambassadors of all and would be welcome at
and the exquisite manners cultivated at court courts throughout Europe.
were regarded as the height of refinement and At a time when interest in the education
definitely something to be aspired to with both of women was generally fairly desultory at
men and women copying French fashions and best and at worst downright negligent, the
etiquette. However, while French men could importance that French aristocratic parents
often be objects of ridicule thanks to what was placed on the upbringing of their young
Marguerite d’Angoulême, Queen of Navarre was
regarded as their ‘unmanly’ interest in fashion daughters was considered rather unusual.
the sister of François I and thanks to her sharp
and art, French women were regarded as the intelligence and excellent education was While in England, well-born girls could
epitome of polished, sophisticated womanhood considered one of the foremost intellectuals of consider themselves fortunate if they were
the French Renaissance
and their appearance and behaviour was taught even the most rudimentary literacy
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