Panpsychism represented. The animate world of Bernard Palissy, 1510–1590
Intellectual History Review December 11, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/17496977.2023.2285264 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractBernard Palissy, a 16th-century French potter and natural philosopher, held panpsychic views—the belief that all matter, including minerals and metals, possesses a form of life or soul. This paper examines how those ideas shaped his artistic practice, particularly his ceramic works and garden projects. By connecting his philosophical writings to surviving artifacts, the author argues that Palissy's art was a direct expression of his conviction that nature is animate and that the artist's role is to reveal the life within raw materials.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Art History Philosophy |
| Key finding | Argues that Bernard Palissy's panpsychic ideas and his concepts of art are interconnected and manifest in his remaining works and projects. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT This research paper proceeds in three parts. After a brief presentation of Bernard Palissy, the first part examines his panpsychic ideas, the second part his ideas on art, which I connect in the third part to some of his remaining works and projects.