SOURCE: Ronsard's `Hymnes': A Literary and Iconographical Study. Tempe, Ariz.: Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies, 1997, 337 p.

In the following excerpt, Ford observes the sources, themes, and stylistic developments of Ronsard's early hymns.

Les Hymnes sont des Grecs invention premiere. 

(Ronsard, L. XVIII. 263. 1)

From our general discussion of iconographical aspects of Ronsard's poetry, it is clear that the prevailing philosophy of Neo-Platonism in humanist and artistic circles provided a strong unifying influence between the visual arts and poetry. It had a profound effect not only on the choice of subject, use of allegory, and interpretation of works of art, but also on their harmonious structure. Art aimed to please, move, and teach in line with the intentions of classical rhetoric, but perhaps more importantly, the harmony of art, albeit an imperfect copy of celestial harmony, could introduce peace and order into the frequently turbulent affairs of men.

Not all art...