About
Théodore de Banville (1823-1891) was a major French writer of the Parnassian movement. Born in Moulins, he published his first collection, Les Cariatides, in 1842. He is known for poems such as Odes funambulesques (1857) and Les Exilés (1867), as well as for his plays, including Gringoire (1866). His Petit traité de versification française (1872) influenced poetry. Close to Baudelaire and Hugo, he contributed to the revival of fixed forms like the rondeau and the villanelle.
* 1823-03-14 — † 1891-03-13
Major works
- Les Cariatides (1842)poetry
- Les Stalactites (1846)poetry
- Odes funambulesques (1857)poetry
- Gringoire (1866)play
- Petit traité de versification française (1872)essay
Key milestones
- 1858Appointed Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
- 1866His play Gringoire was performed at the Comédie-Française.
- 1886Promoted to Officer of the Legion of Honour.
Themes
art for art's sakebeauty and aestheticsmythology and antiquitysatire and ironypoetic form and versification
Sources: data.bnf.fr · larousse.fr · en.wikisource.org