Chapelain, Jean (1595–1674)

French poet and critic. He wrote a volume of Odes and a mediocre epic, La Pucelle/The Virgin. He figured prominently at Madame de Rambouillet's salon and was one of the founders of the French Academy.

On behalf of the academy he formulated the Sentiments de l'Académie sur Le Cid/Sentiments of the Academy Regarding Le Cid (a critique of Corneille's play) 1637. This was written, like his Lettre sur la règle des vingt-quatre heures/Letter on the Rule of Twenty-Four Hours, in support of the dramatic unities.