Jean Antoine de Baif (19 February 1532 – 19 September 1589 / Venice)

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Jean Antoine de Baïf was a French poet and member of the Pléiade.

Life

He was born in Venice, the natural son of the scholar Lazare de Baïf, who was at that time French ambassador at Venice. Thanks, perhaps, to the surroundings of his childhood, he grew up an enthusiast for the fine arts, and surpassed in zeal all the leaders of the Renaissance in France. His father spared no pains to secure the best possible education for his son. The boy was taught Latin by Charles Estienne, and Greek by Ange Vergèce, the Cretan scholar and calligraphist who designed Greek types for Francis I.

When he was eleven years old he was put under the care of the famous Jean... more »

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