Jac Delille

Jac Delille

French poet
Date of Birth: 21.06.1738
Country: France

Content:
  1. Jacques Delille: A French Poet of the Late Classical Era
  2. Early Life and Education
  3. Literary Debut and Translation of Virgil's "Georgics"
  4. Academic Career and Revolution
  5. Original Poetry
  6. Later Works and Legacy

Jacques Delille: A French Poet of the Late Classical Era

Jacques Delille (1738-1813) was a French poet, translator, and educator who played an important role in the late classical period of French literature.

Early Life and Education

Delille was born in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on June 22, 1738. His father, Antoine Montagné, was a lawyer, and his mother's family descended from the 16th-century chancellor of France, Michel de l'Hôpital.

Literary Debut and Translation of Virgil's "Georgics"

Delille began his literary career with short, didactic poems. However, it was his 1769 translation of Virgil's "Georgics" into French verse that established his reputation and earned him a seat in the French Academy. Voltaire praised the translation, but critics later criticized its stylized and artificial style.

Academic Career and Revolution

Delille taught Latin poetry at the Collège de France. During the French Revolution, he fled to England, where he remained until 1802. Upon his return to Paris, he resumed his professorship and enjoyed continued prestige until his death.

Original Poetry

In addition to his translations, Delille published a number of original poems, including "Les jardins, ou l'art d'embellir les paysages" (1782), "L'Homme des champs ou les Géorgiques françaises" (1800), and "Dithyrambe sur l'immortalité de l'âme". These works demonstrated his mastery of versification and contained some poetic merit, but they were also criticized for their affectations and lack of authenticity.

Later Works and Legacy

In his later years, Delille wrote several more poems, including "La pitié" (1803), "L'Imagination" (1806), and "Trois règnes de la nature," a treatise on physics in verse. He also produced translations of Virgil's "Aeneid," Milton's "Paradise Lost," and Pope's "Essay on Man."

Jacques Delille's influence on French poetry was significant. His translations and original works helped to shape the literary landscape of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His legacy as a master craftsman of versification continues to be recognized and appreciated by scholars and literary enthusiasts alike.

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