Saint-Lambert, de l’article « Luxe » aux Saisons

“Essai sur le luxe” by Jean-François de Saint-Lambert is one of the most important articles on political economy in the Encylopédie. Engaging in the great debate that spanned the eighteenth century, Saint-Lambert’s article embraces luxury. Yet, in his four-part poem Les Saisons (1769), he celebrates the simplicity of country life. This article examines whether the main inspiration of Les Saisons contradicts the theory presented in the Encyclopédie.