(Encyclopedia) Castex, Jean, 1965–, French government official and political leader. A member of the center-right Republicans (and its predecessor, the Union for a Popular Movement), Castex has held…
(Encyclopedia) Pucelle, JeanPucelle, JeanzhäN püsĕlˈ [key], c.1300–1355, French manuscript illuminator. Master of a celebrated workshop in Paris during the 1320s, Pucelle produced a masterpiece of…
(Encyclopedia) Balue, JeanBalue, JeanzhäN bälüˈ [key], c.1421–1491, French statesman, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. A trusted adviser of the French king Louis XI, he saved Paris for the king…
(Encyclopedia) Renart, JeanRenart, JeanzhäN rənärˈ [key], fl. 1212, French poet. He is believed to be the author of two charming romans courtois, or metrical romances—Guillaume de Dole and L'Escoufle…
(Encyclopedia) Renoir, JeanRenoir, JeanzhäN rənwärˈ [key], 1894–1979, French film director and writer, b. Paris; son of Pierre Auguste Renoir. He made his first film in 1926. Gathering around him a…
(Encyclopedia) Racine, JeanRacine, JeanzhäN räsēnˈ [key], 1639–99, French dramatist. Racine is the prime exemplar of French classicism. The nobility of his Alexandrine verse, the simplicity of his…
(Encyclopedia) Rhys, JeanRhys, Jeanrēs [key], pseud. of Ella Gwendoline Rees Williams, 1894–1979, English novelist, b. Dominica. Her novels written in the 1930s mercilessly exploit her own emotional…
(Encyclopedia) Ribaut or Ribault, JeanRibaut or Ribault, Jeanboth: zhäN rēbōˈ [key], c.1520–65, French mariner and colonizer in Florida, b. Dieppe. When Gaspard de Coligny decided to plant a French…
(Encyclopedia) Petitot, JeanPetitot, JeanzhäN pətētōˈ [key], 1607–91, French painter in enamel, b. Switzerland. He was apprentice and later partner to a goldsmith, Pierre Bordier, whom he accompanied…
(Encyclopedia) Vigo, JeanVigo, JeanzhäN vēgōˈ [key], 1905–34, French movie director, whose original name was Jean Almereyda. His reputation is based on two superb films: Zéro de Conduite (1933) and L…
