A burlesque epitaph composed by Alexis Piron remains his most enduring contribution to French literature, mocking his exclusion from the Académie française with the line that he was nothing, not even an academician. Born in Dijon in 1689, he navigated a career spanning the roles of clerk, jurist, and prolific chansonnier before finding his voice in Paris.
Early Career and Theatrical Success
Piron initially served as a secretary to a banker before pursuing legal studies. Upon relocating to Paris in 1719, he capitalized on a restrictive edict that limited stage performances at the Théâtre de la Foire to a single character. He achieved notable success with Arlequin Deucalion, a monologue-drama that depicted the recreation of humanity following the Deluge. This period established his reputation for wit and innovation within the constraints of contemporary performance regulations.
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His theatrical output transitioned between genres throughout the 1730s and 1740s. While his attempts at tragedy with Callisthene, Gustave Vasa, and Fernand Cortes failed to gain traction, he found lasting success with the 1738 comedy La Métromanie. This play explored the character Damis and his obsession with verse. In 1758, he oversaw the publication of his own theatrical works, and his friend Rigoley de Juvigny later compiled his Œuvres completes.
Academy and Public Standing
Although elected to the Académie française in 1753, his entry was blocked due to the resurfacing of his early work, Ode to Priapus. Despite this, he received a pension that ensured his financial stability for the remainder of his life. He eventually secured membership in the Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon in 1762. Known to Friedrich Melchior, baron von Grimm as a machine a saillies, his legacy persists through his epigrams and later critical editions of his poetry produced by M. Bonhomme in 1859 and 1879.
Fast facts
- Born: 1689, Dijon
- Died: 1773, Paris
- Nationality: France
- Notable work: La Métromanie
- Notable work: Ode to Priapus
- Occupations: writer, poet, jurist, playwright
- Spouse: Marie Thérèse Quénaudon
Questions readers ask
Why was Piron denied membership in the Académie française?
His enemies presented his early poem, Ode to Priapus, to block his induction.
What was Piron's most famous comedy?
His most successful comedy was La Métromanie, produced in 1738.
Achievements
- Notable work: Ode to Priapus
- Notable work: La Métromanie
