The Salon's original focus was the display of the work of recent graduates of the École des Beaux-Arts, which was created by Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, in 1648.
O centro de atención orixinal do Salón foi a mostra da obra dos recentemente graduados da École des Beaux-Arts, creada polo Cardeal Mazarino, primeiro ministro de Francia, en 1648.