Clément Marot, Blasons anatomiques du corps féminin [Anatomical Blazons of the Female Body]

Edith Benkov (University of San Diego)

Ed. by Robert J. Hudson, Brigham Young University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.02: French Writing and Culture in the Renaissance, 1400-1600.
Vol. editors: Robert J. Hudson (Brigham Young University), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), Phillip John Usher (New York University), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1535

Places

France (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

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While the blazon

may owe its origin to the medieval heraldic tradition both visual and poetic, the

blason anatomique

(anatomical blazon) owes its fame and popularity during the mid-sixteenth century to Clément Marot. During his exile at the court of Renée de France in Ferrara, Marot published a short poem, “

Le Blason du tetin

” (The Blazon of the Breast, later called “Le Beau tetin” [The Beautiful Breast]), which would launch the vogue for this literary genre in 1535. The success of the poem was such that Marot challenged other poets to a contest: each one was to select another part of the female body to write about and submit the poems to Renée who would select the winner. Among the poets who participated was Maurice Scève who sent two blazons to Marot,

Le Sourcil

("The…

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1574 words

Citation: Benkov, Edith. "Blasons anatomiques du corps féminin". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 September 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38870, accessed 26 April 2024.]

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