Bernard Palissy and the Arts of the Earth

A life of the sixteenth-century potter and scientist, with special attention to his natural philosophy.

Bernard Palissy, a French Renaissance artisan philosopher, saw intelligence and consciousness in all forms of life--soils, plants, animals--rejecting human superiority long before modern environmentalism. Known for crafting ceramics, fountains, and grottos for royal patrons, Palissy used his knowledge of earth and agriculture to develop a unique, sometimes controversial philosophy of nature. Unlike many of his peers, he celebrated animal wisdom over human hubris. This new biography explores his work within the courtly world of his patrons and highlights Palissy’s lasting influence on early modern artisan culture and our understanding of art, nature, and intelligence.

François Quiviger is a fellow of the Warburg Institute, University of London. His books include Leonardo da Vinci: Self, Art and Nature, also published by Reaktion Books.