Jacques Jasmin
Encyclopedia
Jansemin (16 March 1798 – 4 October 1864) was an Occitan poet
.
He was born at Agen
, his family name being Boé. His father, who was a tailor, had a certain facility for making doggerel verses, which he sang or recited at fairs and such-like popular gatherings; and Jacques, who generally accompanied him, was thus early familiarized with the part which he later so successfully filled himself. At 16 he found employment at a hairdresser
s shop and subsequently started a similar business of his own on the Gravier at Agen.
In 1825 he published his first volume of Papillotos (Curl Papers), containing poems in French
(a language he used with a certain sense of restraint), and in the familiar Agen variety of Occitan language - the popular speech of the working classes in which he was to achieve all his literary triumphs. Jasmin was the most famous forerunner in Provençal literature
of Frédéric Mistral
and the Félibrige
. His influence in rehabilitating, for literary purposes, his native dialect, was particularly exercised in the public recitals of his poems to which he devoted himself. His poetic gift, and his flexible voice and action, fitted him admirably for this double role of troubadour
and jongleur. In 1835 he recited his "Blind Girl of Castel-Cuill" at Bordeaux
, in 1836 at Toulouse
; and he met with an enthusiastic reception in both those important cities. Most of his public recitations were given for benevolent purposes, the proceeds being contributed by him to the restoration of the church of Vergt
and other good works.
Four successive volumes of Papillotos were published during his lifetime, and contained amongst others the following remarkable poems, quoted in order: "The Charivari", "My Recollections" (supplemented after an interval of many years), "The Blind Girl", "Francounetto", "Martha the Simple", and "The Twin Brothers". With the exception of "The Charivari", these are all touching pictures of humble life - in most cases real episodes - carefully elaborated by the poet till the graphic descriptions, full of light and color, and the admirably varied and melodious verse, seem too spontaneous and easy to have cost an effort.
Jansemin was not a prolific writer, and, in spite of his impetuous nature, would work a long time at one poem, striving to realize every feeling he wished to describe, and give it its most lucid and natural expression. A verse from his spirited poem, "The Third of May", written in honor of Henry IV of France
, and published in the first volume of Papillotos, is engraved on the base of the statue erected to that king at Nérac.
In 1852 Jansemin's works were crowned by the Académie Française
, and a pension was awarded him. The medal struck on the occasion bore the inscription: Au poète moral et populaire. His title of Maistre es Jeu is a distinction only conferred by the academy of Toulouse
on illustrious writers. Pope Pius IX
sent him the insignia of a knight of St Gregory the Great, and he was made chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
. He spent the latter years of his life on a small estate which he had bought near Agen and named Papillotos, and which he describes in "Ma Bigno" ("My Vine"). Though invited to represent his native city, he refused to do so, preferring the pleasures and leisure of a country life, and wisely judging that he was no really eligible candidate for electoral honors. He died in 1864; his last poem, an answer to Renan
, was placed between his folded hands in his coffin.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
He was born at Agen
Agen
Agen is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It lies on the river Garonne southeast of Bordeaux. It is the capital of the department.-Economy:The town has a higher level of unemployment than the national average...
, his family name being Boé. His father, who was a tailor, had a certain facility for making doggerel verses, which he sang or recited at fairs and such-like popular gatherings; and Jacques, who generally accompanied him, was thus early familiarized with the part which he later so successfully filled himself. At 16 he found employment at a hairdresser
Hairdresser
Hairdresser is a term referring to anyone whose occupation is to cut or style hair in order to change or maintain a person's image. This is achieved using a combination of hair coloring, haircutting, and hair texturing techniques...
s shop and subsequently started a similar business of his own on the Gravier at Agen.
In 1825 he published his first volume of Papillotos (Curl Papers), containing poems in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
(a language he used with a certain sense of restraint), and in the familiar Agen variety of Occitan language - the popular speech of the working classes in which he was to achieve all his literary triumphs. Jasmin was the most famous forerunner in Provençal literature
Provençal literature
Occitan literature — still sometimes called Provençal literature — is a body of texts written in Occitan in what is nowadays the South of France. It originated in the poetry of the 11th- and 12th-century troubadours, and inspired the rise of vernacular literature throughout medieval...
of Frédéric Mistral
Frédéric Mistral
Frédéric Mistral was a French writer and lexicographer of the Occitan language. Mistral won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1904 and was a founding member of Félibrige and a member of l'Académie de Marseille...
and the Félibrige
Félibrige
The Félibrige is a literary and cultural association founded by Frédéric Mistral and other Provençal writers to defend and promote Occitan language and literature...
. His influence in rehabilitating, for literary purposes, his native dialect, was particularly exercised in the public recitals of his poems to which he devoted himself. His poetic gift, and his flexible voice and action, fitted him admirably for this double role of troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
and jongleur. In 1835 he recited his "Blind Girl of Castel-Cuill" at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, in 1836 at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
; and he met with an enthusiastic reception in both those important cities. Most of his public recitations were given for benevolent purposes, the proceeds being contributed by him to the restoration of the church of Vergt
Vergt
Vergt is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
and other good works.
Four successive volumes of Papillotos were published during his lifetime, and contained amongst others the following remarkable poems, quoted in order: "The Charivari", "My Recollections" (supplemented after an interval of many years), "The Blind Girl", "Francounetto", "Martha the Simple", and "The Twin Brothers". With the exception of "The Charivari", these are all touching pictures of humble life - in most cases real episodes - carefully elaborated by the poet till the graphic descriptions, full of light and color, and the admirably varied and melodious verse, seem too spontaneous and easy to have cost an effort.
Jansemin was not a prolific writer, and, in spite of his impetuous nature, would work a long time at one poem, striving to realize every feeling he wished to describe, and give it its most lucid and natural expression. A verse from his spirited poem, "The Third of May", written in honor of Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
, and published in the first volume of Papillotos, is engraved on the base of the statue erected to that king at Nérac.
In 1852 Jansemin's works were crowned by the Académie Française
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, and a pension was awarded him. The medal struck on the occasion bore the inscription: Au poète moral et populaire. His title of Maistre es Jeu is a distinction only conferred by the academy of Toulouse
Academy of Toulouse
The Academy of Toulouse is a school district, administered by a Rector. Regroups sets educational departments of: Ariège , Aveyron , Haute-Garonne , Gers , Lot , Hautes-Pyrénées , Tarn and Tarn-et-Garonne ....
on illustrious writers. Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
sent him the insignia of a knight of St Gregory the Great, and he was made chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. He spent the latter years of his life on a small estate which he had bought near Agen and named Papillotos, and which he describes in "Ma Bigno" ("My Vine"). Though invited to represent his native city, he refused to do so, preferring the pleasures and leisure of a country life, and wisely judging that he was no really eligible candidate for electoral honors. He died in 1864; his last poem, an answer to Renan
Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan was a French expert of Middle East ancient languages and civilizations, philosopher and writer, devoted to his native province of Brittany...
, was placed between his folded hands in his coffin.