Bernard Palissy

Bernard Palissy , born with Agen in 1510 and died in Paris in 1589 or 1590, is in turn, Potier, enameller, painter, Verrier, writer and Savant French. It belongs to the French School of the Renaissance.

Bernard Palissy, the man

Resulting from a family modest, self-educated, it was praised not to speak “neither Greek, nor Latin”.
In 1559, the edict against the Protestants, signed to Écouen by Henri II, (to which Palissy had offered, before, of many works) carried out it in Prison, from where it would have left to only go to the torment, if the constable of Montmorency, his guard, had not promptly presented a claim to the queen-mother, who obtained from the king the order to return freedom to him.
In 1572, thus protected from Catherine de Médicis, it will survive the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, only while taking refuge with Sedan.
In 1586, stopped like Huguenot, on order of the League; he is condemned to death, pains which will be commuted to life imprisonment.
Imprisoned initially with the Caretaker's lodge, it died in the Bastille of Paris, in the year 1589 (or 1590?) “of hunger, cold and ill treatments”… Hard, for a 80 year old man!

Bernard Palissy, the artist

This polemist, autodidact, ceramist, potter, writer will learn the technique from cooking of the glazes starting from 1530. Of 1536 with 1556, it will devote twenty years of its life to discover the secrecy of the enamels. Who doesn't know the history of ruined Palissy, burning his last Meuble S to reach that point?

Works

Great production of Earthenware S enamelled with decorations of: “plants, fruits, small animal…”

Already “artist in stained glass and earthenware” of trade, it will also compose of the Vitraux.

Works visible with the Museum of Louvre

Crockery

“rustic” Basin decorated of a Medallion representative Diane and Callisto and Proserpine and Pluton. Workshop of Bernard Palissy (1560 approx.)
Container: The childhood of Bacchus (1580 approx.).
the Christ washing the feet of Simon Pierre (1580 approx.).

Sculptures (of 1580 approx.)

Carry-light representing an young man in bust.
Carry-light in the form of dream.

Bernard Palissy, scientist

Throughout these persecutions, there will remain thanks to its activity of land-surveyor Géomètre. He will take in particular the reading of the salt-water marshes of Saintonge in 1543.

Works

In 1562: Architecture and schedules rustic Grotte of Monseigneur the duke of Montmorency . It is probable that this cave, outlined, was never finished.
In 1580, admirable Discours of the nature of the Eau X and fountains as well natural as artificial , published in Paris. This memory will be recognized like relevant as for the cycle of water and of the food of the source S by the Pluie S.
In the ground Art, it consigns its long fight for the manufacture of a French enamel (Italians controlling already perfectly this know-how) without however not revealing anything of its technique…
It will also work with the role of rock salt in the vegetable life and being studied of the fossil shells (several works on the fossils).

Bernard Palissy, and the posterity

Its brilliant and tumultuous life is at the origin of a true “myth palisséen”. The Lights and the revolutionists will even see in him the type “genius persecuted by the Church”.

If Palissy is mentioned in many documents of the 16th century, none of its fellow-members, Scientifique S and Artisan S, formulated a quelquonque opinion on its work. However, its legend is born almost as of its disappearance. This one is dramatized by contemporary chroniclers as eminent as Agrippa of Aubigné 1552/1630.

At the 17th century, Palissy is known like the “peasant of Saintonge” and its knowledge in Hydrologie or Agriculture seems to exceed those of the scientists of the time. However its writings are censured, and it is necessary to wait 18th to see them republished. Currently, several republications are in the course of publication.

Far from weakening, this passion will be increasing. Thus, in 1777, Barthelemy Faujas of Saint-Bottom, 1741/1819, French geologist and vulcanologist, published: the “ Works of Bernard Palissy, re-examined on the specimens of the Library of the King ”.

The 19th century gives to Palissy, an imposing dimension and starts even the birth of a true worship. Its art knew an extraordinary renewed interest through its imitateurs (Charles Avisseau in Tours, Georges Pull in Paris, Alfred Renoleau in Angouleme…) and by the interest of the large collectors. The least fragment of pottery glazed found some share in France is allotted to him at once.

All this will be at the origin of abusive attributions that modern criticism calls today into question. Also all the objects belonging to the Parisian workshop of Palissy were deposited in 1987 with the National museum of the Rebirth, with the Château of Écouen, so that a complete inventory is established by it before their presentation with the public in one of the rooms of the Château.

To the 20th century, the “Palissy style” even adapts, as from 1920, with the contemporary tendencies: Art nouveau and Arts déco.

Today, several schools bear its name, like a technological college of mainstream education and in Agen, in the Lot-et-Garonne, close to its birthplace, or with Saintes, where he lived a long time.

Museums

Charente: Angouleme: museum of the Art schools
Charente-Maritime:

Holy: Dupuy-Mestreau museums and of the Art schools Présidial.
La Rochelle: museum of Protestantism

Two-Sevres: Parthenay: museum Georges Turpin.

Thouars : barred Henri museum.

Paris; Louvre
Val-d'Oise: 95440, Castle of Écouen.
the Museum Bernard Palissy de Saint-Avit Hamlet between Gavaudun and Lacapelle-Biron on the valley of the Lède, in the north of the Department of Lot-et-Garonne. The oral tradition declares this place as being the native cradle of Bernard Palissy.
High-Vienna: Limoges: national museum of the porcelain Adrien Dubouché (fragments of the cave of tileries, dishes to rustic figuline, dishes of the school of Palissy…)

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