Ignacio de Luzán facts for kids

Ignacio de Luzán Claramunt de Suelves y Gurrea (born March 28, 1702 – died May 19, 1754) was an important Spanish writer. He was known as a critic (someone who judges art or literature) and a poet (someone who writes poems).

His Early Life and Education

Ignacio de Luzán was born in Zaragoza, Spain. He spent his younger years being cared for by his uncle. He studied in Milan and later earned a degree in philosophy from the University of Catania.

In 1723, he considered becoming a priest but decided not to. Instead, he moved to Naples, where he spent a lot of time reading and studying.

Becoming a Literary Reformer

In 1733, Luzán returned to Spain and lived in Monzón. He soon became known in Madrid as a smart scholar. People noticed he had new ideas about literature.

In 1737, he published his most famous work, La Poetica, o Reglas de la poesia en general y de sus principales especies. This book showed everyone that his new ideas were serious.

Luzán quickly became a leader among writers who wanted to change literature. He was polite but firm, which earned him respect even from those who disagreed with him.

Career and Later Life

In 1747, Luzán was chosen to be the secretary for the Spanish embassy in Paris. This was an important job that involved working with other countries.

After returning to Madrid in 1750, he was elected to a special group called the Academia Poetica del Buen Gusto. Because he had traveled a lot, people called him "El Peregrino," which means "The Pilgrim."

He also became the master of the mint (in charge of making coins) and the treasurer of the royal library. Ignacio de Luzán passed away in Madrid on May 19, 1754, after a short illness.

Luzán's Ideas About Literature

Luzán was not the first to bring new ideas from France and Italy to Spain. However, he was the most powerful person to share them. His book Poetica was a great example of his critical thinking.

He pointed out the weaknesses in the works of famous Spanish playwrights like Lope de Vega and Calderón. He was very strict in his judgments.

However, when it came to creating new works, Luzán's ideas were not as strong. He suggested replacing old styles with other old styles, which didn't really help. He believed strongly in "dramatic unities," which are rules for plays.

Even though his ideas didn't lead to many great new plays, they were clever. They also encouraged other writers to think about Spain's own literary traditions.

See also

In Spanish: Ignacio de Luzán for kids

In Spanish: Ignacio de Luzán para niños