Bust of Moliere at The Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris

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Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, was a French playwright and actor who stands tall as one of the greatest comedy masters in Western literature. His most famous works include The Misanthrope, The School for Wives, Tartuffe, The Miser, The Imaginary Invalid, and The Bourgeois Gentleman. Born into a wealthy family and having studied at the prestigious Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was perfectly suited to start a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as a traveling actor helped him hone his comedic skills while he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with refined French comedy. Thanks to the patronage of aristocrats like Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, who is also Louis XIV's brother, Molière secured a royal command performance at the Louvre. He performed a classic play by Pierre Corneille and his own farce, The Doctor in Love, earning him permission to use the spacious salle du Petit-Bourbon near the Louvre. Later, he was granted the use of the Palais-Royal theatre, where he enjoyed huge success with plays like The Affected Ladies, The School for Husbands, and The School for Wives. This royal favor brought Molière a royal pension for his troupe and the title Troupe du Roi (The King's Troupe). He continued as the official author of court entertainments, creating many more hits. Although he was adored by the court and Parisians, Molière's satires attracted criticism from moralists and the Catholic Church. His play Tartuffe was heavily condemned for its attack on perceived religious hypocrisy, while Don Juan was banned from performance. Molière's hard work in multiple theatrical capacities took a toll on his health, forcing him to take a break from the stage by 1667. In 1673, during a production of his final play, The Imaginary Invalid, Molière suffered from a coughing fit and hemorrhage while playing the hypochondriac Argan. He finished the performance but collapsed again and died just a few hours later. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative created by MyMiniFactory to digitally archive fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort. If you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.