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Bernard Palissy, French geologist
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Bernard Palissy, French geologist
Bernard Palissy (1509-1589), French potter, geologist and naturalist, stoking his furnace with wooden furniture. Originally a glass-painter by trade, Palissy spent 16 years on experiments to produce enamels. His efforts reduced him and his family to poverty; he is said to have burned his furniture and even the floor boards of his house to feed the fires of his furnaces, and it is said that his wife and family reproached him bitterly. From 1557 his ceramics, decorated in coloured relief, made him famous. From 1575 to 1584 he lectured on natural history, physics and agriculture. As a Huguenot Protestant, he was arrested by Frances Catholic regime in 1588 for his religious beliefs, and died in prison the following year. Engraving from the 1875 edition of Vies des Savants Illustres
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1500s 16th Century 1875 Burning Engraving Family France French Furnace Geological Geologist Inventor Natural History Naturalist Portraits Potter Poverty Scientist Surname P Upset Vies Des Savants Illustres Working Workshop Bernard Palissy Driven Mono Chrome
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This print captures the essence of Bernard Palissy, a remarkable French geologist and potter from the 16th century. In this illustration, we witness his unwavering determination and relentless pursuit of knowledge in the face of adversity. Originally a glass-painter by trade, Palissy dedicated an astounding 16 years to perfecting enamels through countless experiments. However, his passionate endeavors plunged him and his family into poverty. To fuel the fires of his furnaces, Palissy resorted to burning not only wooden furniture but even the floorboards of their humble abode. His wife and children bitterly reproached him for these drastic measures. Nevertheless, Palissy's perseverance paid off when he gained fame for his ceramics adorned with exquisite colored relief designs starting in 1557. Beyond pottery making, he expanded his expertise by lecturing on natural history, physics, and agriculture from 1575 to 1584. Tragically, as a Huguenot Protestant during France's Catholic regime in 1588, Palissy was arrested due to religious beliefs. He met an untimely demise within prison walls the following year. This engraving from the renowned Vies des Savants Illustres publication in 1875 immortalizes Bernard Palissy's indomitable spirit and single-minded dedication to scientific exploration amidst personal hardships. It serves as a testament to human ingenuity throughout history while highlighting both technological advancements and societal struggles that shaped our world centuries ago.
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