Definitions of Salon

• A gathering of men and women to participate in formal and informal discussion centered around a specific topic. A salonnière, the woman who ran the salon, decided upon its central preoccupation which may include politics, literature, art, fashion or business

• A gathering of stimulating people of quality under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation.

• A gallery where works of art can be displayed.

“Supporting and participating in an arts organization greatly enhances ones life whether as an artist or an art collector. Belonging to an arts organization intensifies the cultural experience for all who partake.”
— Suzan Redgate, Executive Director, Copley Society of Art

“Collectors face an abundance of choices and each must find their way through that dazzling array while being mindful of the realities of budget, space and availability. Working with an art consultant as an advisor can help clarify collecting principles and facilitate the research which is the crucial underpinning of any good collection. Working much like a museum curator, the collector will be constantly evaluating the work and biography of any artist who they are considering for their collection.”
— Elizabeth Ives Hunter, Executive Director, Cape Cod Museum of Art

History of Salons, from Wikipedia

The salon (from the Italian word salone, the large reception hall of Italian mansions) was an Italian invention of the 16th century. Gatherings of the social, political, and cultural elites for the exchange of ideas, salons appeared in France in 1664 where they flourished throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Salon sociability quickly spread through Europe and, in the 18th and 19th centuries, many large cities in Europe had salons copied on the Parisian models.

A feature that distinguished the salon from the royal court was its absence of social hierarchy and its mixing of different social ranks and orders. The salons also encouraged socializing between the sexes.

The salon evolved into a well-regulated practice that focused on and reflected enlightened public opinion by encouraging the exchange of news and ideas. By the mid-eighteenth century the salon had become a major channel of communication among intellectuals. The salon brought Parisian society, the progressive philosophes who were producing the Encyclopédie, the Bluestockings and other intellectuals together to engage in the project of enlightenment.

At a time when society was defined and regulated by men, women could exert a powerful influence as salonnières. Women had a very important role in the salon and were the center of its life. They were responsible for selecting their guests and deciding whether the salon would be primarily social, literary, or political.

From 1800 on in Germany, the salon allowed Jewish women to establish a venue in their homes in which Jews and non-Jews could meet in relative equality. Like-minded people could study art, literature, philosophy or music together. Jewish salonieres created a radical vehicle for democratisation, providing a context in which patrons and artists freely exchanged ideas. Eventually, salons performed political and social miracles.

As well, some 19th century salons were more inclusive, verging on the raffish, and centered around painters and “literary lions”.