fjt_01387 - FRENCH ROYAL ACADEMY OF INSCRIPTIONS AND LITERATURE Académie royale des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres - Louis XVI n.d.

FRENCH ROYAL ACADEMY OF INSCRIPTIONS AND LITERATURE

The Royal Academy of Inscriptions, founded by Colbert in 1663, nicknamed "the little academy" by Madame de Montespan, was the first foundation of the reign of Louis XIV. Originally, it brought together, in private council, only a handful of academicians responsible for working for the glorification of the King. In practice, this small academy was responsible for designing or supervising the monuments erected to the glory of the King (inscriptions on the gates of Paris, ceilings of the Hall of Mirrors), checking the opera librettos, imagining the mottos of the tokens and medals, etc. On the death of Louis XIV, it became the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres, its operation was formalized and its missions became official. Reading tips: BARRET-KRIEGEL B., "The Academies of History", Paris, 1988; MAURY A., "The old Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres", Paris, 1864.