A legacy left in a final testament funded the purchase of books for a nine-year-old boy named François-Marie Arouet, the future Voltaire. Born Anne de l'Enclos in Paris in 1620, she carved a path as an independent writer, patron of the arts, and salonnière who maintained complete autonomy throughout the seventeenth century.
Early Autonomy and Education
The daughter of Henri de l'Enclos, a lutenist and composer, Ninon was instructed in singing and lute performance from a young age. After her father faced exile in 1632 due to a duel and her mother, Marie Barbe de la Marche, passed away a decade later, she briefly entered a convent. This experience solidified her lifelong determination to remain unmarried and self-sufficient.
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Upon returning to Paris, she cultivated a drawing room that functioned as a central hub for literary discussion. Her personal life involved notable figures such as the Grand Condé and Gaston de Coligny. She famously rejected financial support from her lovers, insisting on maintaining her own independent income. Her relationship with Louis de Mornay, the marquis de Villarceaux, resulted in the birth of a son, Louis, and sparked a fashion trend for short hair after she sent the marquis her shorn locks.
Literary Defiance and Beliefs
Her skepticism toward organized religion and her unconventional lifestyle led to an arrest in 1656, resulting in her imprisonment at the Madelonnettes Convent. Following an intervention by Christina, the former queen of Sweden, she was released. She subsequently published La coquette vengée in 1659, a work arguing that a virtuous life could exist independent of religious doctrine. She remained known for her wit, suggesting that genius is more essential to love than to military command.
Later Years at l'hôtel Sagonne
Starting in 1667, she hosted her salon at l'hôtel Sagonne, attracting prominent intellectuals including the playwright Jean Racine. Despite earlier friction, she developed a connection with Madame de Maintenon, the second wife of Louis XIV. She lived to the age of 84, passing away in 1705, and was buried at the Église Saint-Paul-des-champs. She held firmly to her secular convictions until her final days.
Fast facts
- Born: 10 November 1620, Paris
- Died: 17 October 1705, Paris
- Primary occupations: Writer, salonnière, patron of the arts
- Citizenship: France
- Key work: La coquette vengée (1659)
- Burial site: Église Saint-Paul-des-champs
- Languages spoken: French, Italian, Spanish
Questions readers ask
Did Ninon de Lenclos have a formal religious affiliation?
No, she remained a convinced secularist throughout her life, even at the hour of her death.
What was the significance of l'hôtel Sagonne?
From 1667, it served as the location for her influential literary salon.
Achievements
- Worked as salonnière, writer and patron of the arts
