NéolatinLyon 2023 : Jérémie Pinguet (Université de Bourgogne)

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The lecture offers substantial value through its detailed analysis of primary texts and its methodological transparency. Pinguet carefully distinguishes between the terms naeniae and neniae, explaining their etymological and semantic evolution from funeral lament to lullaby, and applies this distinction to the works of Pontano and Macrin. He supports his arguments with specific examples, such as Pontano’s poems on the death of his son Lucius and his wife Ariadna, and Macrin’s Naeniae for Gélonis. The argumentation is solid, grounded in close reading and philological evidence, and avoids overgeneralization. Pinguet acknowledges uncertainties, such as the identity of Stella in Pontano’s Eridanus, and the need for further research on the term nenia. The comparative approach between Pontano and Macrin is well-structured, showing both continuity and innovation in the treatment of conjugal and familial mourning. The discussion of the collective tombeau for Gélonis and the posthumous tombeau for Macrin adds depth to the analysis of commemorative practices. Overall, the argumentation is rigorous, nuanced, and supported by a clear command of the sources.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is high, as Pinguet relies on authoritative editions (e.g., the 1505 Naples edition of Pontano, supervised by Sannazaro) and engages with current scholarship, including the work of Virginie Leroux and the journal Camena. He cites specific poems and editions, and his philological distinctions are carefully argued. The sources mentioned include primary texts by Pontano and Macrin, as well as secondary literature on marriage and Neo-Latin poetry. The title of the talk accurately reflects the speaker and event but is generic; it does not indicate the specific topic of mourning and family lyric, though this is clarified in the description. The adéquation between title and content is therefore moderate: the title is not misleading, but it is not fully informative. No comments were provided for analysis.

The title accurately identifies the speaker, event, and institution, but does not specify the precise topic (mourning and family lyric in Pontano and Macrin). It is adequate but generic.

8/10

The speaker is a doctoral researcher specializing in Neo-Latin poetry, presenting his thesis work on Macrin and Pontano. The content is grounded in primary sources, critical editions, and established scholarship. The argumentation is rigorous, with careful distinctions (e.g., naeniae vs. neniae) and explicit references to editions and secondary literature. The main limitation is the absence of a formal peer-review context and the oral, sometimes digressive nature of the presentation.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction and presentation of the speaker's thesis on Jean Salmon Macrin and comparison with Pontano.
• 05:00Overview of Pontano's life, career, and works, including his scientific poetry, elegies, and funeral poetry.
• 15:00Presentation of Macrin's life, marriage to Guillonne Boursault (Gélonis), and his poetic production.
• 25:00Discussion of the Naeniae: structure, collective tombeau, and the distinction between naeniae and neniae.
• 35:00Etymological and semantic analysis of the term nenia, from funeral lament to lullaby.
• 45:00Close reading and translation of Pontano's neniae for his son, illustrating the blend of lullaby and funeral song.
• 1:00:00Exploration of Pontano's poems on the death of his wife Ariadna and the theme of conjugal mourning.
• 1:15:00Analysis of Macrin's Naeniae for Gélonis, including the collective tombeau and its polyglot nature.
• 1:30:00Discussion of the posthumous tombeau for Macrin and the shift from Latin to vernacular in commemorative poetry.

• Pontano, Opera omnia (Naples edition, 1505) — Authoritative edition supervised by Sannazaro, mentioned as the reference for Pontano's texts.
• Macrin, Naeniae (1550) — Macrin's collection of poems mourning his wife Gélonis, central to the lecture.
• Camena, revue dirigée par Virginie Leroux — Online journal on Neo-Latin literature, cited for a special issue on marriage.
• Erasmus, Encomium matrimonii (1518) — Mentioned as part of the controversy on marriage in the early 16th century.
• Plutarch, Conjugalia praecepta — Cited as a classical text on marriage, re-edited in the Renaissance.