Guirlande de Julie
Encyclopedia
The Guirlande de Julie (ɡiʁlɑ̃d də ʒyli, Julie's garland) is a unique French
manuscript of sixty-two madrigaux
.
The salon of Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet
(1588–1665), wife of Charles d'Angennes, marquis de Rambouillet (1577–1652), was the first and most brilliant Parisian literary salon of the first half of the 17th century, at its height between 1620 and 1645. The Hôtel de Rambouillet
, as it was called, was frequented by renown précieuses, writers, nobles and "robins".
One of its habitués, Charles de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Montausier
(1610–1690), had been in love since 1631 with Julie d'Angennes (1606–1671), the daughter of the marquis and marquise de Rambouillet. To charm her, he decided to give her an extraordinary present.
Montausier asked seventeen of the most talented poets of the time, all frequent visitors of the Hôtel de Rambouillet, to each write a madrigal in which a flower would sing the praises of Julie d'Angennes. These madrigaux were composed by writers as famous as Georges de Scudéry
, Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin, Valentin Conrart
, Jean Chapelain
, Racan
, Tallemant des Réaux
, Robert Arnauld d'Andilly
, Simon Arnauld de Pomponne
, Arnauld de Corbeville, Montmor
, Germain Habert
, Colletet
, Claude Malleville, Philippe Habert
, le chevalier de Méré
, Antoine Godeau
, Pinchesne, Pierre Corneille
(doubtful, according to Bibliothèque nationale de France) and the marquis de Rambouillet. Montausier himself wrote sixteen of the madrigals.
Then the text was ornamentally written by the calligraphist Nicolas Jarry
and the flower quoted in each poem painted by Nicolas Robert
, while the binding was done by Le Gascon. The final object turned out to be one of the most extraordinary manuscripts of the century and one of the hightlights of the "précieuse
" society.
Julie found the manuscript on her bed, upon awakening one morning of 1641 (see 1641 in poetry
). However, she let Montausier wait another four years, until 1645, before accepting to marry him. Their engagement had lasted fourteen years.
After becoming the possession of the Crussol-d'Uzès family, the manuscript was sold several times. La Guirlande de Julie is now conserved at the département des manuscrits of the Bibliothèque nationale de France
(French National Library). It was first published in 1729 (see 1729 in poetry
), although several poems had already appeared in various collections.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
manuscript of sixty-two madrigaux
Madrigal (poetry)
Madrigal is the name of a form of poetry, the exact nature of which has never been decided in English.The definition given in the New English Dictionary, "a short lyrical poem of amatory character," offers no distinctive formula; some madrigals are long, and many have nothing whatever to do with...
.
The salon of Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet
Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet
Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet , known as Madame de Rambouillet, was a society hostess and a major figure in the literary history of 17th-century France.-Biography:...
(1588–1665), wife of Charles d'Angennes, marquis de Rambouillet (1577–1652), was the first and most brilliant Parisian literary salon of the first half of the 17th century, at its height between 1620 and 1645. The Hôtel de Rambouillet
Hôtel de Rambouillet
The Hôtel de Rambouillet was the Paris residence of Madame de Rambouillet, who ran a renowned literary salon there from about 1607 until her death in 1665...
, as it was called, was frequented by renown précieuses, writers, nobles and "robins".
One of its habitués, Charles de Sainte-Maure, marquis de Montausier
Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier
Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier was a French soldier and the governor of the dauphin, Louis le Grand Dauphin, the eldest son and heir of Louis XIV, King of France....
(1610–1690), had been in love since 1631 with Julie d'Angennes (1606–1671), the daughter of the marquis and marquise de Rambouillet. To charm her, he decided to give her an extraordinary present.
Montausier asked seventeen of the most talented poets of the time, all frequent visitors of the Hôtel de Rambouillet, to each write a madrigal in which a flower would sing the praises of Julie d'Angennes. These madrigaux were composed by writers as famous as Georges de Scudéry
Georges de Scudéry
Georges de Scudéry , the elder brother of Madeleine de Scudéry, was a French novelist, dramatist and poet.Georges de Scudéry was born in Le Havre, in Normandy, whither his father had moved from Provence...
, Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin, Valentin Conrart
Valentin Conrart
Valentin Conrart was a French author, and as a founder of the Académie française, the first occupant of seat 2.-Biography:He was born in Paris of Calvinist parents, and was educated for business. However, after his father's death in 1620, he began to move in literary circles, and soon acquired a...
, Jean Chapelain
Jean Chapelain
Jean Chapelain was a French poet and writer.-Biography:Chapelain was born in Paris. His father wanted him to become a notary; but his mother, who had known Pierre de Ronsard, had decided otherwise...
, Racan
Honorat de Bueil, seigneur de Racan
Honorat de Bueil, seigneur de Racan was a French aristocrat, soldier, poet, dramatist and member of the Académie française....
, Tallemant des Réaux
Gédéon Tallemant des Réaux
Gédéon Tallemant, Sieur des Réaux was a French writer known for his Historiettes, a collection of short biographies.-Biography:...
, Robert Arnauld d'Andilly
Robert Arnauld d'Andilly
Robert Arnauld d’Andilly was a French conseiller d’État, specialising in financial questions, in the court of Marie de' Medici. By the elegance of his language, he was among the major poets, writers and translators of 17th century French classicism...
, Simon Arnauld de Pomponne
Simon Arnauld, marquis de Pomponne
Simon Arnauld de Pomponne, Seigneur and then Marquis of Pomponne was a French diplomat and minister.-Early life:...
, Arnauld de Corbeville, Montmor
Henri Louis Habert de Montmor
Henri Louis Habert de Montmor was a French scholar and man of letters.-Life:Cousin to Philippe Habert and Germain Habert, he became conseiller du roi aged 25, then in 1632 rose to become maître des requêtes, a post he gained thanks to the fortune of his father, treasurer extraordinary for war and...
, Germain Habert
Germain Habert
Germain Habert de Cérisy was a French churchman and poet. He was abbot of Saint-Vigor.Germain Habert was born in Paris...
, Colletet
Guillaume Colletet
Guillaume Colletet was a French poet and a founder member of the Académie française. His son was François Colletet.-Life:Colletet was born and died in Paris...
, Claude Malleville, Philippe Habert
Philippe Habert (1605-1637)
Philippe Habert was a French poet. Brother to Germain Habert and cousin of Henri Louis Habert de Montmor, he was a friend of Conrart. Philippe was also one of the first members of the Académie française, and contributed to editing its statutes...
, le chevalier de Méré
Antoine Gombaud
Antoine Gombaud, Chevalier de Méré was a French writer, born at Poitou in 1607, and died on December 29, 1684. Although he was not a nobleman, he adopted the title Chevalier for the character in his dialogues who represented his own views...
, Antoine Godeau
Antoine Godeau
Antoine Godeau was a French bishop, poet and exegete. He is now known for his work of criticism Discours de la poésie chrétienne from 1633.-Life:...
, Pinchesne, Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille
Pierre Corneille was a French tragedian who was one of the three great seventeenth-century French dramatists, along with Molière and Racine...
(doubtful, according to Bibliothèque nationale de France) and the marquis de Rambouillet. Montausier himself wrote sixteen of the madrigals.
Then the text was ornamentally written by the calligraphist Nicolas Jarry
Nicolas Jarry
Nicolas Jarry was a noted 17th century French calligrapher, whose works included his renditions of the poems of Guirlande de Julie by Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier....
and the flower quoted in each poem painted by Nicolas Robert
Nicolas Robert
Nicolas Robert was a French miniaturist and engraver. He was born in Langres on 18 April 1614 and died in Paris on 25 March 1685.In 1664 he was appointed as "peintre ordinaire de Sa Majesté pur la miniature" to Louis XIV....
, while the binding was done by Le Gascon. The final object turned out to be one of the most extraordinary manuscripts of the century and one of the hightlights of the "précieuse
Précieuses
The French literary style called préciosité arose in the 17th century from the lively conversations and playful word games of les précieuses , the witty and educated intellectual ladies who frequented the salon of Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet; her Chambre bleue offered a...
" society.
Julie found the manuscript on her bed, upon awakening one morning of 1641 (see 1641 in poetry
1641 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Charles de Sainte-Maure, duc de Montausier presented Guirlande de Julie, a manuscript of 41 madrigals to Julie d'Angennes this year ; five of the madrigals were written by Sainte-Maure; the other...
). However, she let Montausier wait another four years, until 1645, before accepting to marry him. Their engagement had lasted fourteen years.
After becoming the possession of the Crussol-d'Uzès family, the manuscript was sold several times. La Guirlande de Julie is now conserved at the département des manuscrits of the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
(French National Library). It was first published in 1729 (see 1729 in poetry
1729 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature .-Events:* Alexander Pope begins writing An Essay on Man. The first three epistles will be finished by 1731 and published in early 1733, with the fourth and final epistle published in 1734...
), although several poems had already appeared in various collections.