Olivier de Magny

Olivier de Magny (1529 - 1561) was a French poet.

Life

He was born into a rich bourgeois family in Cahors. His mother was passionate about literature and his father worked as a magistrate.

His studies were carried out at the University of Cahors, but in 1547 he went to Paris, where, thanks to the influence of his mother, he obtained a recommendation from the bishop of Cahors for the poet Hugues Salel, of whom he would become secretary. In this environment, in which Ronsard and Du Bellay also moved, he began his poetry. When Salel dies, Olivier de Magny enters the service of Jean de Saint Marcel, with whom in 1555 he will travel to Italy, specifically to Rome. Upon his return he became secretary to King Henry II.

Considered a minor, sophisticated and mannerist poet, he worked with varying success in various genres, and even theorized about poetry, although the most characteristic of his work are his sonnets. Olivier de Magny exemplifies in some ways the most characteristic features of French Renaissance poetry.

His relationships with the poet Louise Labé, belonging to the so-called Lioness School, although real, are difficult to quantify. They met when Magny passed through Lyon on his way to Rome (Italy). In fact, the only certainty is that Olivier de Magny participated in the collective work Writings by various poets in praise of Louize Labé with three poems. There are also some texts whose attribution (to Magny or Labé) is disputed.

At his death he is buried in his hometown, Cahors, in what was the church of La Dorada.

Works

• The Loves (Les Amours), 1553.
• The Joy (Les Gayetez), 1554.
• The Sighs (Les soupirs1557.
• The Odas (Les Odes1559.
• Sonnets (Sonnets1560.