What the guests see is what the public sees

So in time, households and home life became not just a constantly enjoyed private comfort, but were also more open to the view of many guests and thus to the public as well. Led into the salon, one would quickly notice the portraits of the household members or of their ancestors – often the work of some local or travelling artist. It was important to notice a recognizable face, the reserved and dignified stance, fine but not ostentatious clothing and jewellery.