ENTRE SPECTACLISATION DES SCIENCES ET VÉRITABLE PRESTIDIGITATION : LE SIÈCLE DES LUMIÈRES, UN MOMENT CHARNIÈRE

Abstract

In the history of illusionism, the eighteenth century marked an essential but little-studied
turning point. Initially placed under the patronage of the sciences through learned
demonstrations and amusing physics, “simulated magic” shows gradually gained their
letters of nobility. In the last decades of the century, they were finally recognised as entertainment
worthy of interest. At the same time, the publication of specialised popular
works contributed greatly to the reflection, knowledge and popularisation of this
issue. This article studies this exceptional transition, starting from the interesting case of
France and Paris.