The manifesto "Défense et illustration de la langue française," published in 1549, established the blueprint for French Renaissance poetry by arguing that the vernacular could reach the aesthetic heights of Greek and Latin. Its author, Joachim du Bellay, served as a primary architect of this movement, fundamentally shaping how literature in his native country developed throughout the sixteenth century.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1522 at Liré, du Bellay was the son of Jean du Bellay and Renée Chabot. Following the early death of his parents, his upbringing was initially neglected under his brother's guardianship. At age 23, he began legal studies at the University of Poitiers, where he encountered the influence of humanists such as Marc Antoine Muret. This period provided the intellectual foundation for his later literary contributions.
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Take the IQ test →The Formation of La Pléiade
A pivotal meeting with Ronsard in 1547 during a journey to Poitiers initiated a significant partnership in French literature. Returning to Paris, the two men joined a group of scholars at the Collège de Coqueret led by Jean Dorat. This circle eventually became known as La Pléiade, a movement dedicated to elevating French artistic expression. While colleagues often favored Greek models, du Bellay focused heavily on Latin influences, fostering a unique national tone in his work.
Literary Conflicts and Adaptations
The publication of the "Défense et illustration" functioned as both a theoretical manifesto and a direct challenge to contemporaries like Thomas Sébillet. Du Bellay advocated for the imitation of classical forms and the internal enrichment of the French language through careful borrowing from Italian, Latin, and Greek. This stance provoked public criticism from writers such as Barthélemy Aneau and Guillaume des Autels, leading du Bellay to publish polemical responses in later editions of his own poetry, including his sonnet collection, "Olive."
Italian Residency and Final Years
In 1553, du Bellay moved to Rome to act as a secretary for his kinsman, Cardinal du Bellay. His four-and-a-half-year stay in Italy informed his later work, most notably his 1558 collection, "Antiquités de Rome." Despite enduring a multi-year illness that resulted in permanent hearing loss, he continued his literary output. He died in 1560 in Paris and was buried at Notre-Dame de Paris.
Fast facts
- Born: 1522, Liré
- Died: 1560, Paris
- Movement: La Pléiade
- Notable work: The Regrets
- Burial site: Notre-Dame de Paris
- Languages: Latin, Middle French
Questions readers ask
What was the main purpose of the manifesto La Défense et illustration de la langue française?
It aimed to prove that the French language was capable of serving as a sophisticated medium for high-level poetry, comparable to classical languages.
Did du Bellay introduce the sonnet to France?
No, he did not invent the form, but he played a significant role in its adoption and refinement within French literature.
Achievements
- Notable work: La Défense et illustration de la langue française
- Notable work: Le fruit noir avec un noyaux
- Notable work: The Regrets
