Magny, Olivier de

(1529-1561)

   poet

   Born in cahars, olivier de Magny, after serving as a secretary in Paris to one of his compatriots, made a visit to lyon, where he met and fell in love with the poet louise labé, and then went to Italy. In Rome, he had experiences similar to those of the other poets in the pléiade group (joachim du bellay), which Magny describes in his sonnets (Soupirs, 1557) and in which he gives a satirical account of Roman mores. De Magny's debut as a poet featured another brilliant collection of sonnets (Amours, 1553), which brought him the praise of pierre de Ronsard and his associates. In 1554 Gayetez appeared, a collection of more profound poems, in contrast to his Soupirs and to Du Bellay's Regrets. Magny's final work was a volume of Odes (1559) inspired by Ronsard. Magny's writings, considered to be filled with erudition, helped to develop an art of the libertine life.