Happy birthday to French art critic, journalist, fiction writer, and poet Théophile Gautier (30 August 1811–23 October 1872), who was an early proponent of Romanticism. However, after publishing the poetry collection Albertus (1832) and Mademoiselle de Maupin (1835), he embraced l’art pour l’art, or “art for art’s sake.”
The quote caught my attention and the stories delighted me. Not a real cat person, but strong personalities of any species have their charm
Charming article.
I read once that Gautier dressed in red and green satin and took a leashed lizard (iguana?) for a stroll on Les Champs. “Epater le bourgoisie!” (Shock the middle class!) was the watchword. Early version of the beatniks and hippies. Heck, it may be true.
I started to add that tidbit, but the post was already long. His friend Nerval walked a lobster tied with a blue ribbon.
So odd for such a Romantic! I’ve just come back from Maine, lobsters are luscious but most ungainly creatures 🙂
I really liked Gautier when I read various contes fantastiques years ago. Now I just have to remember which one/ones he wrote but no doubt something with femme fatales.
Thanks for taking me back into the folds of literature. Ca me manque!
Great to hear from you, Laurie. We may travel in you direction this fall. Will let you know.