Valère Joseph Jules Gille (born

Anderlecht Anderlecht (; ) is one of the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the south-western part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Forest, B ...

, 3 May 1867, died Haasdonk, 1 June 1950) was a Belgian poet.

Life

In 1885 Gille enrolled at the

Catholic University of Leuven University of Leuven or University of Louvain (; ) may refer to: * Old University of Leuven (1425–1797) * State University of Leuven (1817–1835) * Catholic University of Leuven (1834–1968) * Katholieke Universiteit Leuven or KU Leuven (1968 ...

, and in 1887 he began writing for ''

La Jeune Belgique ''La Jeune Belgique'' (meaning ''The Young Belgium'' in English) was a Belgian literary society and movement that published a French-language literary review ''La Jeune Belgique'' between 1880 and 1897. Both the society and magazine were founded b ...

''. In 1889 he, together with

Iwan Gilkin Iwan Gilkin (7 January 1858 – 28 September 1924) was a Belgian poet. Born in Brussels, Gilkin was associated with the Symbolist school in Belgium. His works include ''Les ténèbres'' (1892, featuring a frontispiece by Odilon Redon) and ''Le ...

and Albert Giraud, took over the running of the periodical. He resigned in 1891 to take up a position at the

Royal Library of Belgium The Royal Library of Belgium ( ; ; , abbreviated ''KBR'' and sometimes nicknamed in French or in Dutch) is the national library of Belgium. The library has a history that goes back to the age of the Duke of Burgundy, Dukes of Burgundy. In ...

. A volume of his poems, ''La Cithare'' (Paris, 1897) was lauded by the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

. On 8 January 1921 he was appointed to the

Académie royale de langue et de littérature françaises de Belgique The (; 'Royal Academy of French Language and Literature of Belgium') or ARLLFB is a Belgian institution which brings together personalities who, through their works, writings, lectures or speeches, have contributed most eminently to the illustra ...

, becoming its director 1925–1946. In 1945 he became curator of the

Wiertz Museum Antoine Joseph Wiertz (22 February 1806 – 18 June 1865) was a Belgian painter, sculptor, lithographer and art writer. He is known for his religious, historical, and allegorical works and portraits. He was an eccentric figure who originally was ...

. He died in Haasdonk on 1 June 1950.

Works

Poetry

* ''Le Château des merveilles'' (1893) * ''La Cithare'' (1897) * ''Le Collier d'Opales'' (1899) * ''Les Tombeaux'' (1900) * ''Le Coffret d'ébène'' (1901) * ''La Corbeille d'octobre'' (1902) * ''Le Joli Mai'' (1905) * ''La Victoire ailée'' (1921)

Drama

* ''Ce n'était qu'un rêve'' (1903) * ''Madame reçoit'' (1908) * ''Le Sire de Binche'' (unpublished)

Honours

* 1932 : Commander of the Order of Leopold.

Royal order In Belgium, a royal decree (RD) or royal order ( in Dutch, arrêté royal in French, or königlicher Erlass in German) is a federal government decree implementing legislation, or exercising powers the legislature has delegated to the crown as se ...

of 8 April 1932, as published in the

Belgian official journal The Belgian official journal (, , ) is the official journal or gazette of the Belgium, Kingdom of Belgium. It is where the official publication of laws, royal decrees, decrees, ordinances, and official notices are published. The publication is h ...

References

Members of the Académie royale de langue et de littérature françaises de Belgique 1867 births 1950 deaths 20th-century Belgian poets Catholic University of Leuven alumni Belgian male poets 19th-century Belgian poets 19th-century Belgian male writers 20th-century Belgian male writers {{Belgium-poet-stub