A little French Ease Would be an Improvement in 1780s Paris

After the American Revolution, an increasing number of Americans found themselves in Paris mixing with the upper echelons of French society. It was a time ripe with opportunities for forging new relationships and identities. Here, in 1784, a young Nabby Adams observed that Americans would do well to adopt “a little French ease” as an antidote to the stiffness and reserve that marred their social circles back home. What did she mean? This talk answers that question by exploring extant correspondence and household furnishings. Focusing on the acquisitions and behaviors of the prominent Americans who spent time in Paris during the 1780s, we will deepen our understanding of the role of French decorative arts and discover why these objects appealed to the founders of the American republic.