Ludovic Vitet

Who was Ludovic Vitet?

Ludovic Vitet was a French dramatist and politician.

He was born in Paris. He was educated at the École Normale. His politics were liberal, and he was a member of the society "Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera." On the triumph of liberal principles in 1830 Guizot created an office especially for Vitet, who became inspector-general of historical monuments. In 1834 he entered the Chamber of Deputies, and two years later was made a member of the Council of State. He was consistent in his monarchist principles, and abstained from taking any part in politics during the second empire. The disasters of 1870-71 reawakened Vitet's interest in public affairs, and he published in the Revue des deux mondes his optimistic "Lettres sur le siège de Paris."

Vitet was the author of some valuable works on the history of art, and his Monographie de l'Église Notre-Dame de Noyon especially did much to awaken popular interest in architecture. In the early days of the Romantic movement he wrote some vivid dramatic sketches of the time of the League. They are:

Les Barricades, scènes historiques

Les États de Blois, scènes

La Mort de Henri III

All three being published together in 1844 with the title of La Ligue. The best of these is the États de Blois, in which the murder of the duke of Guise is described in the most convincing manner.