François Delsarte
Quick Summary
François Delsarte was a French teacher of dramatic and musical expression who developed a system for using body movements to convey emotional concepts. This method, known as the Delsartian system, influenced acting and performance techniques. Delsarte's work aimed to create a more structured approach to acting, but his attempts to formulate laws of speech and gesture resulted in elaborate descriptions that were criticized for being mechanical. Despite this, his influence was widespread, particularly in France and the United States.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- actingDiderot’s Paradox of Acting
…of the 19th-century French teacher François Delsarte, whose influence was widespread not only in France but also in the United States. Delsarte became dissatisfied with routine acting techniques. He observed their mechanical and stultifying character and realized that under the stress of natural instinct or emotion, the body assumes appropriate…
Read More…of the 19th-century French teacher François Delsarte, whose influence was widespread not only in France but also in the United States. Delsarte became dissatisfied with routine acting techniques. He observed their mechanical and stultifying character and realized that under the stress of natural instinct or emotion, the body assumes appropriate…
Read More 
theatreOther developments in the study of movementThe Frenchman François Delsarte laid stress on a connection between mental attitude and physical posture and discovered that one’s emotional state is communicated through one’s physical appearance. Eventually Delsarte codified his observations in a chart of gestures, which was used as a guide for expression and characterization…
Read MoreThe Frenchman François Delsarte laid stress on a connection between mental attitude and physical posture and discovered that one’s emotional state is communicated through one’s physical appearance. Eventually Delsarte codified his observations in a chart of gestures, which was used as a guide for expression and characterization…
Read More
