Christiaan Huygens – A family affair - Proeven van Vroeger

Chapelain was needed. A repetitive pattern can be seen in the different occasions where
Christiaan received the aid of his father or other courtiers 322 when very important matters at
court needed to be arranged – such as audiences with Colbert or Louis XIV or letters to
monarchs.
In short, Christiaan Huygens Jr. learned how to move and survive in the elevated
layers of society, and this acquired ability was just as much a part of his personality and career
as his scientific genius was. In fact, throughout his youth until well in his twenties, this courtly
dimension was probably more relevant with regard to Christiaan Jr.’s professional outlook, for
it seems that his father, Constantijn Sr., kept his ambitions for his son within this field. Though
perhaps ironic, the important steering role of his father, pushing Christiaan Jr. into courtly and
diplomatic social surroundings, created the boundary conditions for the establishment and
perseverance of Christiaan’s natural scientific work, name and position within, notably, the
Parisian courtly scene. One important element of Christiaan Jr.’s work and fame during his
early years in Paris was formed by his work on scientific instruments – a subject that fitted the
courtly and diplomatic surroundings very well and that will be investigated in the following
chapter.
schedule during his second trip to Paris HUYGENS, C. (1888) OC., Vol. III, No. 844 (Feb. 1661).
Christiaan’s correspondence does not show significant other frictions on manner-related issues.
322 See for instance the way in which Chapelain helped Christiaan to prepare for his audience with
Colbert after receiving his pension (See Chapter VIII, section i).
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