JEAN

See also:

• BAPTISTE

BAPTISTE GUSTAVE

See also:

• JEAN BAPTISTE GUSTAVE PLANCHE (1808–1857)

PLANCHE (1808–1857)  , French critic, was born in Paris on the 16th of February 18o8 . Intro-duced by Alfred de Vigny to Francois Buloz, he began to write for the Revue des deux mondes, and continued to do so until 184o . He resumed his connexion with the journal in 1846 and contributed to it until his death in Paris on the 18th of September 18J7 . Gustave Planche was an altogether honest critic and refused to accept a place from Napoleon III. for fear of compromising his freedom . He was in early life a fervent admirer of George Sand, and he lavished praise on De Vigny . But he had nothing but scorn for Victor Hugo, whose earlier dramas he characterized as odes, those following Le Roi s'amuse as anti-theses, and the later ones as nothing but spectacle . His critical papers were collected under the titles: Portraits litteraires (1836–1849); Nouveaux portraits litteraires (1854); and art criticisms, Etudes sur l'ecole francaise (1855) . See Ernest Montegut, in the Revue des deux mondes (June 1858); February 1996, the son of a watchmaker of Huguenot descent . In 1810 he was articled to a bookseller . In 1818 his first dramatic piece, a burlesque entitled Amoroso, King of Little Britain, was produced at Drury Lane theatre . From this time onwards he made play-writing his principal work . In 1820–1821 he wrote ten pieces for the Adelphi theatre .

In 1823 he designed the dresses for

Charles Kemble's revival of King John at Covent Garden, and superintended its production . This was the first time that an historical drama had been " dressed " in the costume of the period . In 1828 he began writing regularly for Covent Garden theatre, and in 1830 was manager of the Adelphi . On Mme Vestris taking the Olympic theatre in 1831, Planche entered into an agreement with her to write a series of plays . The first of these, Olympic Revels, a burlesque, was given on the opening night of the theatre, the performance being given in correct classical costume . In 1843 his Fair One with the Golden Locks was produced by Webster at the Haymarket . In 1847 Mme Vestris became manageress of the Lyceum theatre, and Planche was engaged as her leading author and designer, his principal success being the Island of Jewels (1849) . Subsequently he wrote for a number of other managements, his last dramatic piece being King Christmas (1871), but he also wrote the songs for Babil and Bijou at Covent Garden (1872) . In addition to his dramatic work Planche enjoyed a considerable reputation as an antiquary and heraldic student . He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and aided in the foundation of the British Archaeological Association in 1843 . In 1834 he published The History of British Costumes . In 1854 he was appointed Rouge Croix pursuivant of arms at the Heralds' College, and in 1866 Somerset herald .

In 1869, at the

request of the War Office, he arranged the collection of armour at the Tower of London in chronological order . He died at Chelsea on the 3oth of May 1880 . Planche's Recollections and Reflections were published in 1872 .