Jean-Baptiste Gaut (1819–1891) was a French Provençal poet and playwright from Aix-en-Provence. He was a chief advocate of the Provençal language and the Félibrige movement. He was known as "Félibre Gaut."[1]
Jean-Baptiste Gaut | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 April 1819 |
| Died | 14 July 1891 (aged 72) Aix-en-Provence, France |
| Occupation(s) | Poet, newspaper editor, library director |
| Spouse | Marie-Nathalie Simon |
| Children | 1 son, 2 daughters |
| Parent(s) | Jean-Joseph Gaut Marguerite-Bastienne Berthon |
Early life
editJean-Baptiste Gaut was born on 2 April 1819 in Aix-en-Provence, France.[1][2] His father, Jean-Joseph Gaut, was an arquebus manufacturer. His mother, Marguerite Bastienne Berthon, was the daughter of armourer Jean Berthon.[2]
Career
editGaut was encouraged to write poetry in Provençal by a friend, Joseph Desanat.[1] He first wrote poetry for Lou Bouil-Abaïsso, a literary journal started by Desanat.[1] In 1852, Gaut was a co-author in a collection of poems in Provençal with Joseph Roumanille.[1] That same year, they organised a conference to promote Provençal poetry in Arles, followed by a similar conference a year later, in 1853.[1] Those conferences were the precursors to the Félibrige movement, founded in 1854 by Roumanille and Frédéric Mistral.[1] Meanwhile, Gaut founded Le Gay-Saber, a Provençal literary review, which only published 17 issues.[1][2] Later, he published poetry in Armana Prouvençau.[2]
Beyond poetry, Gaut wrote two plays in Provençal.[2] His first play, Lei Mourou, was performed in Forcalquier in 1875.[2] He went on to write two opéra comiques, which were performed in Sorgues en 1881.[2]
Gaut was active in Aix-en-Provence. He served as the editor-in-chief of Le Mémorial d'Aix, a bi-weekly newspaper in Aix.[3] He served as the Director of the Bibliothèque Méjanes from 1878 to 1891.[3]
Personal life
editGaut married Marie-Nathalie Simon.[2] They have three children: Jeanne-Marguerite Gaut (born 1861); Pauline Gaut (born 1866); and Jean Gaut (born 1871).[2]
Death
editHe died on 14 July 1891 in Aix-en-Provence.[1]
Legacy
edit- The Rue du Felibre Gaut in Aix-en-Provence is named in his honour.[1]
- The Allée Jean-Baptiste Gaut in Sausset-les-Pins as well as the Rue Jean-Baptiste Gaut in Velaux are also named in his honour.[4]
Bibliography
editPoetry
edit- Sounet, souneto e sounaio (poems, 1874).
Plays
edit- Lei Mourou (1875).
- La bèn-vengudo (1887).
Opera comique
edit- Lou mau d'amour (1881).
- Blanco-flour de Vau-Claro o L'amour enrabia (1881).