De l’art de la tragédie

De l'art de la tragédie is a treatise by Jean de La Taille, a French poet and dramatist. Published around 1572, it is considered a significant piece of French dramatic criticism of its time.1

In this work, La Taille advocated for a transition from native French drama to classical tragedy. He drew inspiration from the Senecan model and emphasized the importance of the unities of place, time, and action. La Taille also argued against depicting death on stage, believing it to be unconvincing, and stressed that tragic subjects should be moving and developed through skillful intrigue. While his own tragedy Saül le furieux did not fully adhere to his program, it showcased an exciting action and a well-developed principal character.1