The salons of 1700 and 1800 were intended to guide public opinion that the time was obviously very limited as most people were illiterate. These rooms were mostly frequented by nobles, gentry, artists and intellectuals.
The living room of the Countess Maffei in Milan is also governed by the husband who is a poet and translator and since the early years of marriage invites writers and artists. They will have a little girl who died after a few months. Nal 1834 begins to form a lively and well attended by living painters and writers such as Tommaso Grossi Hayez. In 1846, Maffei is separated from her husband and begins to come that will bring Carlo Tenca his patriotic ideas. During the 50s most of the arguments about the likely future and independence from Austria. Tenca founded the newspaper patriotic "Twilight." After the formation of the Kingdom of Italy, Tenca become a member of parliament in Turin and will no longer have the opportunity to attend the salon of Maffei. To the Countess becomes increasingly challenging to manage it and its importance is diminishing, Now that the patriotic movement has reached its goal with the unification of Italy. She still keeps it open until his death that will occur in 1886.