Olivier de Serres 1539-1619 Portraits

Olivier de Serres 1539-1619 Portrait
from Les grands agriculteurs modernes
Olivier de Serres, Duhamel du Monceau, Parmentier, Matthieu de Dombasle Published 1893

BORN: 1539, Villeneuve de Berge (Ardeche)
DIED: July 2, 1619

FATHER: Jacques de (des) Serres (d. 1546)
MOTHER: Louise de Leyris (m. June 1, 1532)
SIBLINGS: Jean de Serres (b. 1540) and Raymond de Serres – two other children, Claude and Dauphine, died in childhood

EDUCATION: In childhood it is assumed that he completed his studies in Valence, studying Greek and Latin. In his adulthood it is said that he studied “everything” that was written on the subject of agriculture.

WIFE: Marguerite D’Arcons (m. June 11, 1559 – daughter of Jacques d’Arcons)
CHILDREN: Daniel, Gedeon (d. 1612), Bonne, Ysabeau, Marie, Pierre and Jacques

WORKS & TITLE

1558 – Becomes Seigneur du Pradel

1599 – Publishes “La Cueillette de la soye par la nourriture des vers qui la font. — Echantillon du Théâtre d’Agriculture d’Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel. A Paris, chez Iamet Mettayer, Imprimeur ordinaire du Roy, M.D.XCIX. Avec Privilegede de Sa Majesté.”

1600 – Publishes Théâtre d’Agriculture, a work that took over 30 years to complete. The work included 1024 pages and was a success being reprinted eight times between 1608 and 1617. It was also translated.

1603 he published a 27 page document titled La Seconde Richesse du Meurier-blanc. Qui se treuve en son Escorce, pour en faire des Toiles de toute sorte, non moins utiles que la soie, provenant de la feuille d’iceluy. Eschantillon de la seconde édition du Théâtre d’Agriculture d’Olivier De Serres, seigneur du Pradel. A Messire Pompone de Belièvre, chancellier de France, — Paris, chez Abraham Savgrain, rue S. Iacques. Aux deux vipères. — M.DC.III. Avec privilège du Roy.

JACQUES BARNIER

Olivier de Serres had a servant named Jacques Barnier who played an import role in the industry and life of de Serres. The importance of this relationship is related in the book Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel, sa vie et ses travaux, 1886.

Olivier de Serres 1539-1619 Portrait
from Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel
préface par Emile Coste Published 1900

Olivier de Serres 1539-1619 Portrait
from Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel, sa vie et ses travaux, 1886

Theatre d’Agriculture et Menage des Champs Frontispiece circa 1600
from Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel, sa vie et ses travaux, 1886

Olivier de Serres 1539-1619 Portrait by His Son Daniel
from Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel, sa vie et ses travaux, 1886

source: Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel préface par Emile Coste, Published 1900 by La Cause and Olivier de Serres, seigneur du Pradel, sa vie et ses travaux, Published 1886