This article is about the French dramatist and writer. For the element of a mechanical watch or clock, see Fusee (horology).
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Claude-Henri de Fusée, abbé de Voisenon (8 July 1708 – 22 November 1775) was a French playwright and writer.
Born at the château de Voisenon near Melun, he was only ten when he addressed an epistle in verse to Voltaire, who asked the boy to visit him. They remained friends for fifty years. Voisenon made his début as a dramatist with L'Heureuse resemblance in 1728, followed in 1739 by a three-act comedy L'École du monde at the Théâtre Français. This was preceded by a verse prologue, L'Ombre de Molière, and a month later Voisenon produced a criticism of his own piece in Le Retour de l'ombre de Molière.[1]
A duel provoked by Voisenon inspired him with remorse, and he entered a seminary; he was soon promoted to the post of secretary to his relative, the Bishop of Boulogne.[2] He became closely attached to Madame du Châtelet, the mistress of Voltaire, and was intimate with the comte de Caylus and Mademoiselle Jeanne Quinault. He made witty but by no means edifying contributions to the Étrennes de Saint-Jean, the Bals de Bois, etc.[1]
In 1744, he produced the Ménages assortis and in 1746 his masterpiece, the Coquette fixée. He was a close friend of Charles Simon Favart and his wife. His pen was always at the service of any of his friends, and it was generally supposed that he had a considerable share in Favart's most successful operas. Voisenon had scruples all his life about the incongruity between his way of living and his profession, but he continued to write indecent stories for private circulation, and wrote verses in honor of Madame du Barry, as he had done for Madame de Pompadour.[1]
He was elected to the Académie française in 1762. On the disgrace of his patron, the duc de Choiseul, he lost his pensions and honours, but soon recovered his position. He was intimate with the chancellor Maupeou, and was suspected of writing on his behalf in defence of the abolition of the parlement. This and some other incidents brought him into general disgrace. Early in 1775 he retired to the château de Voisenon, where he died.[1]
Worksedit
His Œuvres complètes were published by his executrix, fr:Constance de Lowendal, 5 vol. in-8°. in 1781.[1]
Theatreedit
1738: L'Heureuse Ressemblance, comedy in 1 act and in verse
1739: L'École du monde, comedy in 3 acts and in verse, presented at the Comédie-Française 14 October
1739: Le Retour de l'ombre de Molière, comedy in 1 act and in verse, presented at the Comédie-Française 21 November
1744: Les Mariages assortis, comedy in 3 acts and in verse, premiered by the Italian comedians ordinaires du Roi 10 February (printed in 1746, in-8)
1749: La Fausse Prévention, comedy in 3 acts and in verse, premiered by the Comédiens italiens ordinaires du Roi 29 December
1750: Le Réveil de Thalie, comedy, premiered by the Comédiens italiens ordinaires du Roi 19 June
1753: Titon et l'Aurore, pastorale héroïque, music by Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville, premiered at the Académie royale de musique 9 January
1756: Les Magots, parody of L'Orphelin de la Chine by Voltaire, in 1 act and in vers, premiered by the Comédiens italiens ordinaires du Roi 19 March
1757: La Petite Iphigénie, parodie de la Grande, premiered by the Comédiens italiens ordinaires du Roi July
1758: L'Amour et Psyché, ballet héroïque, premiered by the Académie Royale de musique 9 May
1759: La parodie au Parnasse, one-act opéra comique, premiered at the Théâtre de l'Opéra comique de la foire saint Germain 20 March (also attributed to Charles-Simon Favart)
1762: La Jeune Grecque, comedy in 3 acts and in free verse (printed in 1762)
1765: La Fée Urgèle ou Ce qui plaît aux dames, four-act- comedy miongked with ariettes, given at Fontainebleau 26 October
1770: L'Amant déguisé, ou le Jardinier supposé, one-act comedy mingled with ariettes, music by François-André Danican Philidor, premiered by the Comédiens italiens ordinaires du Roi 2 September
1770: L'Amitié à l'épreuve, comedy in 2 acts and in verse mingled with ariettes, music by André Grétry, presented at Fontainebleau 13 November
1776: Fleur d'Épine, opéra comique in 2 acts and in prose, set in music by Marie Emmanuelle Bayon Louis, mingled with ariettes, from Hamilton, premiered by the Comédiens italiens ordinaires du Roi 22 August.
Novels and talesedit
1745: Zulmis et Zelmaïde, conte licencieux
1745: Turlubleu, histoire grecque tirée du manuscrit gris-de-lin, trouvé dans les cendres de Troye
1746: Le Sultan Misapouf et la princesse Grisemine, novel, London, 2 vol. in-12
1747: Les Fêtes roulantes et les Regrets des petites rues
1885: Contes légers suivis des Anecdotes littéraires, Paris, E. Dentu, Bibliothèque choisie des chefs-d'œuvre français et étrangers, (complete text on Gallica)
Variaedit
1739: Le Code des Amants, poème héroïque en trois chants
1758: Les Israélites à la montagne d'Oreb, poème biblique for the Concert Spirituel, set in music by Mondonville
Allem, Maurice, Anthologie poétique française, XVIIIe, Paris, Garnier Frères, 1919
Anonyme, La Vie authentique de M. l'abbé de Voisenon, mémoires inédits d'un contemporain, publiés par Ad. Van Bever et Charles Martyne, Paris, 1916
Comoy, Jean, Un abbé de cour sous Louis XV. Monsieur de Voisenon, Préface de Wladimir d'Ormesson, Paris, la Science historique, 1959
Grente, Georges Cardinal (dir.), Dictionnaire des lettres françaises. Le XVIIIe, nlle. édition revue et mise à jour sous la direction de fr:François Moureau, Paris, Fayard, 1995
Krakowski, Patrick, "Un académicien dans son temps", l'abbé de Voisenon (correspondences, chroniques, biographie) Lys Éditions Ammatéis, 2007, ISBN978-2-86849-255-5
Pitou, Spire (1985). The Paris Opéra. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Vapereau, Gustave, « Claude-Henri de Fusée de Voisenon », in 'Dictionnaire universel des littératures, Paris, Hachette, 1876, 2 volumes
Viguerie, Jean de Histoire et dictionnaire du temps des Lumières. 1715-1789, Paris, Robert Laffont, coll. Bouquins, 2003 - ISBN2-221-04810-5
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Voisenon, Claude Henri de Fuzée, Abbé de". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 177.
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This article is about the French dramatist and writer For the element of a mechanical watch or clock see Fusee horology This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Claude Henri de Fusee de Voisenon news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2024 Claude Henri de Fusee abbe de Voisenon 8 July 1708 22 November 1775 was a French playwright and writer Claude Henri de Fusee de Voisenon 1762 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 2 1 Theatre 2 2 Novels and tales 2 3 Varia 2 4 Bibliography 3 External links 4 ReferencesLife editBorn at the chateau de Voisenon near Melun he was only ten when he addressed an epistle in verse to Voltaire who asked the boy to visit him They remained friends for fifty years Voisenon made his debut as a dramatist with L Heureuse resemblance in 1728 followed in 1739 by a three act comedy L Ecole du monde at the Theatre Francais This was preceded by a verse prologue L Ombre de Moliere and a month later Voisenon produced a criticism of his own piece in Le Retour de l ombre de Moliere 1 A duel provoked by Voisenon inspired him with remorse and he entered a seminary he was soon promoted to the post of secretary to his relative the Bishop of Boulogne 2 He became closely attached to Madame du Chatelet the mistress of Voltaire and was intimate with the comte de Caylus and Mademoiselle Jeanne Quinault He made witty but by no means edifying contributions to the Etrennes de Saint Jean the Bals de Bois etc 1 In 1744 he produced the Menages assortis and in 1746 his masterpiece the Coquette fixee He was a close friend of Charles Simon Favart and his wife His pen was always at the service of any of his friends and it was generally supposed that he had a considerable share in Favart s most successful operas Voisenon had scruples all his life about the incongruity between his way of living and his profession but he continued to write indecent stories for private circulation and wrote verses in honor of Madame du Barry as he had done for Madame de Pompadour 1 He was elected to the Academie francaise in 1762 On the disgrace of his patron the duc de Choiseul he lost his pensions and honours but soon recovered his position He was intimate with the chancellor Maupeou and was suspected of writing on his behalf in defence of the abolition of the parlement This and some other incidents brought him into general disgrace Early in 1775 he retired to the chateau de Voisenon where he died 1 Works editHis Œuvres completes were published by his executrix fr Constance de Lowendal 5 vol in 8 in 1781 1 Theatre edit 1738 L Heureuse Ressemblance comedy in 1 act and in verse 1739 L Ecole du monde comedy in 3 acts and in verse presented at the Comedie Francaise 14 October 1739 Le Retour de l ombre de Moliere comedy in 1 act and in verse presented at the Comedie Francaise 21 November 1744 Les Mariages assortis comedy in 3 acts and in verse premiered by the Italian comedians ordinaires du Roi 10 February printed in 1746 in 8 1746 La Coquette fixee comedy in 3 acts and in verse with Charles Antoine Leclerc de La Bruere and the Duke of Nivernais premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi 10 March 1749 La Fausse Prevention comedy in 3 acts and in verse premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi 29 December 1750 Le Reveil de Thalie comedy premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi 19 June 1753 Titon et l Aurore pastorale heroique music by Jean Joseph Cassanea de Mondonville premiered at the Academie royale de musique 9 January 1756 Les Magots parody of L Orphelin de la Chine by Voltaire in 1 act and in vers premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi 19 March 1757 La Petite Iphigenie parodie de la Grande premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi July 1758 L Amour et Psyche ballet heroique premiered by the Academie Royale de musique 9 May 1759 La parodie au Parnasse one act opera comique premiered at the Theatre de l Opera comique de la foire saint Germain 20 March also attributed to Charles Simon Favart 1762 La Jeune Grecque comedy in 3 acts and in free verse printed in 1762 1763 Hilas et Zelie pastorale in 1 act music by Bernard de Bury presented at Versailles Palace 12 January 1765 La Fee Urgele ou Ce qui plait aux dames four act comedy miongked with ariettes given at Fontainebleau 26 October 1770 L Amant deguise ou le Jardinier suppose one act comedy mingled with ariettes music by Francois Andre Danican Philidor premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi 2 September 1770 L Amitie a l epreuve comedy in 2 acts and in verse mingled with ariettes music by Andre Gretry presented at Fontainebleau 13 November 1776 Fleur d Epine opera comique in 2 acts and in prose set in music by Marie Emmanuelle Bayon Louis mingled with ariettes from Hamilton premiered by the Comediens italiens ordinaires du Roi 22 August Novels and tales edit 1745 Zulmis et Zelmaide conte licencieux 1745 Turlubleu histoire grecque tiree du manuscrit gris de lin trouve dans les cendres de Troye 1746 Le Sultan Misapouf et la princesse Grisemine novel London 2 vol in 12 1747 Les Fetes roulantes et les Regrets des petites rues 1751 Histoire de la Felicite 1760 Tant mieux pour elle conte plaisant 1767 Romans et Contes 2 vol reed 1775 1798 1818 1885 Contes legers suivis des Anecdotes litteraires Paris E Dentu Bibliotheque choisie des chefs d œuvre francais et etrangers complete text on Gallica Varia edit 1739 Le Code des Amants poeme heroique en trois chants 1758 Les Israelites a la montagne d Oreb poeme biblique for the Concert Spirituel set in music by Mondonville 1759 Les Fureurs de Saul poeme biblique for the Concert Spirituel set in music by Mondonville Bibliography edit Allem Maurice Anthologie poetique francaise XVIIIe Paris Garnier Freres 1919 Anonyme La Vie authentique de M l abbe de Voisenon memoires inedits d un contemporain publies par Ad Van Bever et Charles Martyne Paris 1916 Comoy Jean Un abbe de cour sous Louis XV Monsieur de Voisenon Preface de Wladimir d Ormesson Paris la Science historique 1959 Grente Georges Cardinal dir Dictionnaire des lettres francaises Le XVIIIe nlle edition revue et mise a jour sous la direction de fr Francois Moureau Paris Fayard 1995 Krakowski Patrick Un academicien dans son temps l abbe de Voisenon correspondences chroniques biographie Lys Editions Ammateis 2007 ISBN 978 2 86849 255 5 Pitou Spire 1985 The Paris Opera Westport CT Greenwood Press Vapereau Gustave Claude Henri de Fusee de Voisenon in Dictionnaire universel des litteratures Paris Hachette 1876 2 volumes Viguerie Jean de Histoire et dictionnaire du temps des Lumieres 1715 1789 Paris Robert Laffont coll Bouquins 2003 ISBN 2 221 04810 5External links editFiche biographique de l Academie francaise Ses pieces et leurs representations sur le site CESARReferences edit a b c d e Chisholm 1911 Pitou 1985 p 547 vol 2 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Voisenon Claude Henri de Fuzee Abbe de Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 28 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 177 Portal nbsp theatre Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Claude Henri de Fusee de Voisenon amp oldid 1222791092, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
