L’Art poétique

work by Vauquelin de La Fresnaye

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July 19, 2026

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L'Art poétique is a work by Jean Vauquelin de La Fresnaye, a French magistrate and poet, written in 1605. Commissioned by Henry III, this treatise reflects Vauquelin's dedication to establishing a pure, classical French literary style. He urged writers to follow the principles of Aristotle and Horace, advocating for a style devoid of dialect and focused on moral and logical content, steering clear of Italianate excesses. This work aligns with a broader 17th-century French literary movement that emphasized order, refinement, and the standardization of the French language, as seen in the efforts of the Académie Française.12

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Jean Vauquelin de La Fresnaye, sieur des Yveteaux
L’Art poétique, commissioned by Henry III in 1574, reflects Vauquelin’s lifelong effort to persuade his fellow writers to abide by the precepts of Aristotle and Horace. He urged them to avoid Italianate excesses and to cultivate a pure French style, devoid of dialect, in works…
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L’Art poétique, commissioned by Henry III in 1574, reflects Vauquelin’s lifelong effort to persuade his fellow writers to abide by the precepts of Aristotle and Horace. He urged them to avoid Italianate excesses and to cultivate a pure French style, devoid of dialect, in works…
Read More