“True power lies in the ability

to empower others.”​

Anne "Ninon"  de  L'Enclos​

​

Anne "Ninon" de L'Enclos lived from 1620 to 1705 and was considered the Beauty of the 17th Century. Though not born into or married into royalty, she became the royal figure of the ancien régime, which encompassed the political, social, economic, and cultural spheres before the French Revolution.  

 

With her complete refusal of allowing anyone or any social structure to dictate her role in life, Ninon redefined what a woman could become. Actually, she was among the first French proto-feminists, if not the first, to openly question monarchs and religious leaders who saw women as inferior to men. As an altruist, she helped many people from all walks of life. In her private literary salon, which was very rare for a woman to own at the time, she educated countless women on their equal rights. In addition, as one of the earliest referenced private investors, she financed notable figures before they were even known, such as Voltaire, Molière, Saint-Evremond, de Sévigné, La Fontaine, Scarron, Fontenelle, La Rochefoucauld, the Great Condé, René Descartes, de Grammont, and many more.​ 

 

With her enduring belief that the greatest satisfaction in life is doing what others say can’t be done, she prevailed through very difficult personal experiences. Like, spending time in an orphanage as a young teenager to being imprisoned at the Madelonnettes Convent for opposing unjust societal norms as an adult. Even with this, she passed as a very prosperous individual. It was her life’s passion to help as many people as possible, and, in doing so, she reshaped France’s culture and changed the trajectory of an entire nation. Today, the Lanclos legacy remains a vital part of France's rich history, with portraits of Ninon displayed on the walls in museums throughout the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre Palace, Château de Versailles, and many many more.​​​​​​​