The art of dyeing at the Royal Academy of sciences in the 18th century

When Colbert founded the Academie des sciences his target was to stimulate industry. But at that time no chemist in the Academie was yet in a position to rationalise the very empirical art of dyeing. During the 17th century dyeing was not discussed in the sessions of the Academie. By contrast the academicians' interest for this chemical art increased in the course of years 1750 under the impulse of Pierre-Joseph Macquer and the Bureau du Commerce. This paper presents the art of dyeing by focussing mainly on the first academic works on dyeing, on Macquer's memoirs and on the prizes and publications on dyeing proposed by the Academie. During the 18(th) century dyeing gradually left the world of craftsmen dyers to catch the interest of the world of scientists and academicians. Dyeing won its lettres de noblesse, springing from workshops to enter the Academie and be finally taught like chemistry.