Institut de France

Institut de France, group of five learned French societies. Each society fosters some special branch or branches of art, literature, philosophy, or science. The institute, as it was organized in 1795 during the French Revolution, comprised three societies: one devoted to physics and mathematics, one to the moral and political sciences, and one to literature and the fine arts. The five present sections are as follows.

L'Académie Française (French Academy) was founded in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu for the principal purpose of standardizing the French language. The first edition of its authoritative dictionary was published in 1694. The dictionary is constantly revised, and volumes are published as they are completed. In 1980 the novelist Marguerite Yourcenar became the first woman—and naturalized American citizen—elected to the academy. Membership is limited to 40.

L'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres was organized in 1663. Its purpose is the historical study of ancient inscriptions and documents, numismatics, and languages, both living and dead. This section has 45 members.

L'Académie des Sciences was created in 1666. It promotes original work in the mathematical sciences, such as geometry and astronomy, and in the physical sciences, such as chemistry, botany, and anatomy. The society has 130 members.

L'Académie des Beaux-Arts was established in 1648 to encourage the fine arts and maintain aesthetic standards. It has 50 members.

L'Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques was the only section founded at the same time that the Institut de France was organized (1795). It consists of five divisions: history and geography, legislation and jurisprudence, morals, philosophy, and political economy. It has 50 members.

The institute has more than 300 members, each of whom is elected for life and receives a small annuity from the government of France, and about 300 correspondents, many of whom are foreigners. Each section of the institute elects its own members whenever a vacancy occurs. Since 1805 the institute has held its meetings in the Palais de l'Institut in Paris. The various sections of the institute award annual prizes to nonmembers who have done notable work in the fields covered by the societies. The institute also possesses a notable architectural and artistic heritage as a result of donations and bequests from benefactors.

Reviewed by: Institut de France