Bernard Palissy and the Arts of the Earth - (Renaissance Lives) by François Quiviger (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A life of the sixteenth-century potter and scientist, with special attention to his natural philosophy.

Bernard Palissy, a French Renaissance artisan philosopher, saw intelligence and consciousness in all forms of life--soils, plants, animals--rejecting human superiority long before modern environmentalism. Known for crafting ceramics, fountains, and grottos for royal patrons, Palissy used his knowledge of earth and agriculture to develop a unique, sometimes controversial philosophy of nature. Unlike many of his peers, he celebrated animal wisdom over human hubris. This new biography explores his work within the courtly world of his patrons and highlights Palissy's lasting influence on early modern artisan culture and our understanding of art, nature, and intelligence.

Review Quotes

"Based on the sober modern estimates of the number of Palissy's extant ceramics and on his published treatises, Quiviger's account ably demonstrates the coherence of the French ceramist's views on creative nature with his artistic practice, which rhymes so well with many of today's philosophical and environmental concerns. Highly recommended."--Peter Mason, author of 'Ulisse Aldrovandi: Naturalist and Collector'

"This is a marvellously rich yet concise account of the life and work of one of the most idiosyncratic figures of the French Renaissance. Quiviger makes palpable the distinctive philosophy that animated Palissy's experiments in the ceramic arts and that conditioned his unique contributions to the lavish court entertainments of his epoch."--Andrea Frisch, University of Maryland

About the Author

François Quiviger is a fellow of the Warburg Institute, University of London. His books include Leonardo da Vinci: Self, Art and Nature, also published by Reaktion Books.