Jean de Montigny
Encyclopedia
The Abbé Jean de Montigny (1636 – 28 September 1671) was a French philosophic writer and poet, elected to the Académie française
, but who died in his prime.
, Montigny was encouraged by the marquise de Guiche
, a granddaughter of Pierre Séguier
, chancellor of France
.
Montigny delivered the funeral oration for Anne of Austria
and was confessor to Louis XIV's Queen Marie-Thérèse
. He published some poetry (Le palais des plaisirs) and a Letter to Erastus
in which he took up the defense of the unfortunate epic La Pucelle of Jean Chapelain
.
In January, 1670 Montigny was named to the Académie française, reading for his reception "Reflections upon languages", a piece that the abbé d'Olivet pronounced the best that the Académie had yet heard. He was appointed bishop of Laon—a post that would have made him a duke and peer of France—but en route to take up his episcopal duties he died of a stroke. At the time of his unexpected death, Mme de Sevigné
wrote that he was a luminary of philosophy and attributed the stroke of which he died to overwork.
The Abbé d'Olivet assessed his place in the contemporary literary world: "His prose is correct, elegant, sonorous ("nombreuse"): his versification flowing, noble, filled with images. A few more years, and what might he not have achieved? But, for a man of letters, to die at thirty-five is to die in the cradle."
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,...
, but who died in his prime.
Biography
Born in BrittanyBrittany
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...
, Montigny was encouraged by the marquise de Guiche
Guiche
Guiche can refer to:*Guiche, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.*Gīshu, a fictional character*a slang word for perineum; see also Guiche piercing...
, a granddaughter of Pierre Séguier
Pierre Séguier
-Early years:Born in Paris, France of a prominent legal family originating in Quercy. His grandfather, Pierre Séguier , was président à mortier in the parlement of Paris from 1554 to 1576, and the chancellor's father, Jean Séguier, a seigneur d'Autry, was civil lieutenant of Paris at the time of...
, chancellor of 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...
.
Montigny delivered the funeral oration for Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
and was confessor to Louis XIV's Queen Marie-Thérèse
Maria Theresa of Spain
Maria Theresa of Austria was the daughter of Philip IV, King of Spain and Elizabeth of France. Maria Theresa was Queen of France as wife of King Louis XIV and mother of the Grand Dauphin, an ancestor of the last four Bourbon kings of France.-Early life:Born as Infanta María Teresa of Spain at the...
. He published some poetry (Le palais des plaisirs) and a Letter to Erastus
Erastus
Erastus may refer to:* Erastus of Corinth, Corinth's "director of public works" , disciple of Paul * Erastus Brigham Bigelow , American inventor of weaving machines...
in which he took up the defense of the unfortunate epic La Pucelle of Jean Chapelain
Jean Chapelain
Jean Chapelain was a French poet and writer.-Biography:Chapelain was born in Paris. His father wanted him to become a notary; but his mother, who had known Pierre de Ronsard, had decided otherwise...
.
In January, 1670 Montigny was named to the Académie française, reading for his reception "Reflections upon languages", a piece that the abbé d'Olivet pronounced the best that the Académie had yet heard. He was appointed bishop of Laon—a post that would have made him a duke and peer of France—but en route to take up his episcopal duties he died of a stroke. At the time of his unexpected death, Mme de Sevigné
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné was a French aristocrat, remembered for her letter-writing. Most of her letters, celebrated for their wit and vividness, were addressed to her daughter.-Life:...
wrote that he was a luminary of philosophy and attributed the stroke of which he died to overwork.
The Abbé d'Olivet assessed his place in the contemporary literary world: "His prose is correct, elegant, sonorous ("nombreuse"): his versification flowing, noble, filled with images. A few more years, and what might he not have achieved? But, for a man of letters, to die at thirty-five is to die in the cradle."