Paul Sébillot
Encyclopedia
Paul Sébillot
Paul Sébillot (February 6, 1843 in Matignon
, Côtes-d'Armor
, France
– April 23, 1918 in Paris
) was a French folklorist, painter
, and writer
. Many of his works are about his native province, Brittany
.
, and became mayor of Matignon
in 1848.
After studying at the communal college of Dinan
, Sébillot moved to Rennes to study jurisprudence, which he completed in Paris in 1863. Very interested in painting, he also took courses with Augustin Feyen-Perrin and in 1870 he exhibited at the Salon a canvas entitled Rochers à Marée Basse (Rocks at Low Tide), which was also later shown at London in 1872. Sébillot continued his painting until 1883, during which time fourteen of his works were shown at the Paris Salon and two at the Vienna World Fair in 1873. His inspiration was largely taken from the Breton landscape. He also contributed to several journals as an art critic: Le Bien Public, La Réforme, L'Art français and L'Art libre.
who translated the book into Breton.
After this he published new works regularly. In 1877, he created La Pomme, an association of Bretons and Normans, of which he became president the following year. In 1889, a monthly journal of the same name was created. In 1881 he initiated with Charles Leclerc
the publication Collection des Littératures populaires de toutes les nations (Collection of the Popular Literatures of all Nations), to which he contributed La littérature orale de la Haute-Bretagne (Oral Literature of Upper Brittany
). In 1882, came the creation of the Société des Traditions populaires, which organized the Dîners de ma Mère l’Oye, meetings of folklorists which gave rise to the journal of the same name. From 1886 he became the general secretary of the association and assumed the direction of the journal.
In 1889, he participated in the first Congress of Popular Traditions in Paris, and was named principal private secretary to the Ministry of Labour, when his brother-in-law, Yves Guyot
was named Minister for Labour. He remained in this job until 1892, an ideal position from which to collect the information which would later be the subject of his book Les Travaux publics et les mines dans les traditions et superstitions de tous les pays (Public Works and the Mines in the Traditions and Superstitions of all Lands), in 1894. The following year, he collected the list of his publications (books and articles), under the title Autobibliographie.
In 1905, he was named President of the Société d’anthropologie.
Paul Sébillot (February 6, 1843 in Matignon
Matignon
Matignon may refer to:* The Hôtel Matignon in Paris, France, the official residence of the French Prime Minister. .* Matignon, Côtes-d'Armor, a commune of the Côtes-d'Armor département in France.* Matignon High School, a...
, Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor is a department in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France.-History:Côtes-du-Nord was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Brittany. Its name was changed in 1990 to...
, France
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...
– April 23, 1918 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) was a French folklorist, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. Many of his works are about his native province, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
.
Early life and art
Sébillot came from an old Breton family and a line of doctors. His father Pierre Sébillot was cited for his devotion during the cholera epidemic of 1832 at Saint-Cast-le-GuildoSaint-Cast-le-Guildo
Saint-Cast-le-Guildo is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Saint-Cast-le-Guildo are called castins.-External links:* *...
, and became mayor of Matignon
Matignon
Matignon may refer to:* The Hôtel Matignon in Paris, France, the official residence of the French Prime Minister. .* Matignon, Côtes-d'Armor, a commune of the Côtes-d'Armor département in France.* Matignon High School, a...
in 1848.
After studying at the communal college of Dinan
Dinan
Dinan is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France.-Geography:Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance...
, Sébillot moved to Rennes to study jurisprudence, which he completed in Paris in 1863. Very interested in painting, he also took courses with Augustin Feyen-Perrin and in 1870 he exhibited at the Salon a canvas entitled Rochers à Marée Basse (Rocks at Low Tide), which was also later shown at London in 1872. Sébillot continued his painting until 1883, during which time fourteen of his works were shown at the Paris Salon and two at the Vienna World Fair in 1873. His inspiration was largely taken from the Breton landscape. He also contributed to several journals as an art critic: Le Bien Public, La Réforme, L'Art français and L'Art libre.
Writings
In parallel with his art work Sébillot began a literary career with the publication in 1875 of La République, c’est la tranquillité the success of which was such that it was republished twice in the same year. It was at that time that he met the folklorist François-Marie LuzelFrançois-Marie Luzel
François-Marie Luzel , often known by his Breton name Fañch an Uhel, was a French folklorist and Breton-language poet.- Early years :...
who translated the book into Breton.
After this he published new works regularly. In 1877, he created La Pomme, an association of Bretons and Normans, of which he became president the following year. In 1889, a monthly journal of the same name was created. In 1881 he initiated with Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc
Charles Victoire Emmanuel Leclerc was a French Army general and husband to Pauline Bonaparte, sister to Napoleon Bonaparte.-To 1801:...
the publication Collection des Littératures populaires de toutes les nations (Collection of the Popular Literatures of all Nations), to which he contributed La littérature orale de la Haute-Bretagne (Oral Literature of Upper Brittany
Upper Brittany
Upper Brittany is a term used to describe the eastern part of Brittany which is predominantly of a Romance culture and is associated with the Gallo language. The name is in counterpoint to Lower Brittany, the western part of the ancient province and present-day region, where the Breton language...
). In 1882, came the creation of the Société des Traditions populaires, which organized the Dîners de ma Mère l’Oye, meetings of folklorists which gave rise to the journal of the same name. From 1886 he became the general secretary of the association and assumed the direction of the journal.
In 1889, he participated in the first Congress of Popular Traditions in Paris, and was named principal private secretary to the Ministry of Labour, when his brother-in-law, Yves Guyot
Yves Guyot
Yves Guyot was a French politician and economist.He was born at Dinan. Educated al Rennes, he took up the profession of journalism, coming to Paris in 1867...
was named Minister for Labour. He remained in this job until 1892, an ideal position from which to collect the information which would later be the subject of his book Les Travaux publics et les mines dans les traditions et superstitions de tous les pays (Public Works and the Mines in the Traditions and Superstitions of all Lands), in 1894. The following year, he collected the list of his publications (books and articles), under the title Autobibliographie.
In 1905, he was named President of the Société d’anthropologie.
Selected works
- Contes populaires de la Bretagne (popular stories of Brittany)
- Le folklore de France (1906)
External links
- E. Sidney Hartland. "Obituary: Paul Sébillot" Folk-Lore. Volume 29, 1918.
- Picture of Sébillot