SOURCE: "Jewel and Metallic Imagery in the Poetry of Théophile de Viau and Théophile Gautier," in Romance Notes, Vol. XVI, No. 1, Autumn, 1974, pp. 38-45.

In the following essay, Alsip compares the poetic imagery of Théophile de Viau and Gautier, concluding that while Gautier may have been influenced by the earlier poet's imagery, he was not an imitator for he developed different, subtler uses for his imagery.

In Metaphysical, Baroque and Précieux Poetry, Odette de Mourgues comments "… Théophile Gautier, who rediscovered these poets (Théophile, Saint-Amant, and Tristan) and appreciated their art so much that he contrived at times to rival them, found it difficult to achieve their successful blend of light transparence and jewelled richness." Might a comparison of jewel and metallic imagery in the œuvres poétiques of Théophile de Viau and Gautier's Émaux et camées indeed reveal Gautier to...