Many scientists assiduously frequented the Court of Versailles, a place of exchanges, as the princes tutors and the king's doctors. Others came to make a presentation to the monarch, the highest honour and a way of obtaining subsidies to carry on their work or find outlets for their inventions.

The creation of the Academy of Sciences in 1666 established a contract between power and science, and there was no break between academic circles and the Court until the Revolution: statutorily the academy had 10 'honorary members' chosen by the king from among the most enlightened nobles, many of whom had a passionate interest in 'curiosity cabinets'.

Author: collective work edited by Beatrix Saule, General Director of the Château de Versailles
Publisher: co-published by RMN éditions/Etablissement public du château, du musée et du domaine de Versailles
Soft cover with flap 300 pages
October 2010
Language : French
ISBN13 : 9782711856831
Dimensions : 24 x 28 cm