Adrienne de La Fayette: A Woman at the Heart of Two Revolutions

Director of the Josée and René de Chambrun Foundation and a General Heritage Curator, Vincent Bouat-Ferlier is specialized in the history and legacy of Lafayette and Franco-American relations. During his summer residency at the Villa Albertine, the historian will present a conference on Adrienne de La Fayette, aiming to renew attention on her life and political engagement, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Too often remembered only as Lafayette’s wife, she was in fact a woman of extraordinary courage and conviction. During the French Revolution, she endured imprisonment, the loss of close family members, and chose to join her husband in captivity. At the same time, she managed family estates, defended religious and moral principles, and supported causes such as the abolitionist movement. Her life stands as a testament to a form of political agency rarely recognized in women of her time.

The conference is accompanied by a special exhibition, offering a visual and narrative journey traces her path from Adrienne de Noailles to a central figure of the revolutionary era as marquise de La Fayette.

Program

• Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM
  History conference with Vincent Bouat-Ferlier on Adrienne de La Fayette
  
  French Library, in partnership with the Fondation Chambrun and Villa Albertine Boston
  (53 Malborough Street, Boston MA)

This event, open to the public, will be followed by a Q&A and reception. Register here.