Anne de Marquets
Encyclopedia
Anne de Marquets was a nun from Poissy
. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but she was likely born around 1533 in the Comté d'Eu of a noble family. She entered the convent
in the priory
of Poissy at a very young age, where she proved to be gifted in ancient languages as well as in creative writing. The education Anne de Marquets received in the convent was certainly exceptional for a young girl of her time. In sixteenth-century France, the convent was a place where women had more access to education than in the outside world. As part of her education, Anne even studied with the humanist printer Henri Estienne.
In 1561, Anne de Marquets attended the Colloquy at Poissy
, an event which would influence her poetry. Following the colloquy, she wrote several poems and prayers in verse for Catholic
leaders. This first collection of poems, entitled Sonets, prières et devises, was published in 1562, and dedicated to Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine
.
In 1568, she proved herself to be a talented Latinist when she published a translation of Marcantonio Flaminio's De Rebus Divinis Carmina (1550), a collection of Latin
devotional poems, under the title Les Divines Poésies de Marc Antoine Flaminius (The Divine Poems of Marc Antonio Flaminio). Her poetic talent was praised by several of the greatest poets of her time, such as Pierre de Ronsard
.
Anne de Marquets died in 1588. A book of her sonnets, Les Sonets spirituels, was published in 1605. Though this publication was posthumous, the poems in the book had already circulated in manuscript.
In the past few decades, scholars have begun to recognise the talent that won her so much praise in the sixteenth century: "These sonnets form a complete devotional sequence of 480 sonnets […] they are therefore far more advanced, in terms of the application of systematic devotional practice to poetry, than anything written in the 1570s and 1580s." Anne de Marquets' sonnets are also noteworthy because they exhibit the influcence of post-Tridentine
spirituality, in particular an interaction with contemporary meditation techniques. Like her contemporary, Gabrielle de Coignard
, her poems all touch on religious (Catholic) themes and imagery.
Poissy
Poissy is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center.In 1561 it was the site of a fruitless Catholic-Huguenot conference, the Colloquy at Poissy...
. Her exact date of birth is unknown, but she was likely born around 1533 in the Comté d'Eu of a noble family. She entered the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in the priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of Poissy at a very young age, where she proved to be gifted in ancient languages as well as in creative writing. The education Anne de Marquets received in the convent was certainly exceptional for a young girl of her time. In sixteenth-century France, the convent was a place where women had more access to education than in the outside world. As part of her education, Anne even studied with the humanist printer Henri Estienne.
In 1561, Anne de Marquets attended the Colloquy at Poissy
Colloquy at Poissy
The Colloquy at Poissy was a religious conference which took place in Poissy, France, in 1561. Its object was to effect a reconciliation between the Catholics and Protestants of France....
, an event which would influence her poetry. Following the colloquy, she wrote several poems and prayers in verse for Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
leaders. This first collection of poems, entitled Sonets, prières et devises, was published in 1562, and dedicated to Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine
Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine
Charles de Lorraine , Duke of Chevreuse, was a French Cardinal, a member of the powerful House of Guise. He was known at first as the Cardinal of Guise, and then as the second Cardinal of Lorraine, after the death of his uncle, John, Cardinal of Lorraine . He was the protector of Rabelais and...
.
In 1568, she proved herself to be a talented Latinist when she published a translation of Marcantonio Flaminio's De Rebus Divinis Carmina (1550), a collection of Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
devotional poems, under the title Les Divines Poésies de Marc Antoine Flaminius (The Divine Poems of Marc Antonio Flaminio). Her poetic talent was praised by several of the greatest poets of her time, such as Pierre de Ronsard
Pierre de Ronsard
Pierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
.
Anne de Marquets died in 1588. A book of her sonnets, Les Sonets spirituels, was published in 1605. Though this publication was posthumous, the poems in the book had already circulated in manuscript.
In the past few decades, scholars have begun to recognise the talent that won her so much praise in the sixteenth century: "These sonnets form a complete devotional sequence of 480 sonnets […] they are therefore far more advanced, in terms of the application of systematic devotional practice to poetry, than anything written in the 1570s and 1580s." Anne de Marquets' sonnets are also noteworthy because they exhibit the influcence of post-Tridentine
Tridentine
The adjective Tridentine refers to any thing or person pertaining to the city of Trent, Italy .It is applied in particular to:*The Council of Trent, one of the ecumenical councils recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held in that city in the 16th century, and to the teachings emphasized by it...
spirituality, in particular an interaction with contemporary meditation techniques. Like her contemporary, Gabrielle de Coignard
Gabrielle de Coignard
Gabrielle de Coignard was a French poet, born in Toulouse, France, to John de Coignard and Louise de Baulac. She married a prominent statesman, Pierre de Manescal, in 1570, and was widowed three years later, with two young daughters, Jeanne and Catherine...
, her poems all touch on religious (Catholic) themes and imagery.