Arsène Houssaye

Who was Arsène Houssaye?

Arsène Houssaye, French novelist, poet and man of letters, was born at Bruyères, near Laon. His real surname was Housset.

In 1832 he found his way to Paris, and in 1836 he published two novels, La Couronne de bluets and La Pécheresse. He had many friends in Paris, among them Jules Janin and Théophile Gautier, and he wrote in collaboration with Jules Sandeau. He produced art criticism in L'Histoire de la peinture flamande et hollandaise; semi-historical sketches in Mlle de la Vallière et Mme de Montespan and Galerie de portraits du XVIII siècle; literary criticism in Le Roi Voltaire and his famous satirical Histoire du quarante et unième fauteuil de l'Académie française; drama in his Comédiennes; poetry in his Symphonie de vingt ans, Cent et un sonnets, etc.; and novels, Les Filles d'Eve and many others. He was long editor of L'Artiste and for some years was editor and proprietor of La Presse.

In 1849, through the influence of the actress Rachel, he was entrusted with the administration of the Theâtre Français, a position he filled with unfailing tact and success until 1859, when he was made inspector-general of works of art.