Which French poet wrote the neoclassical work 'L'Art poétique'?

Nicolas Boileau wrote the neoclassical work L’Art poétique.

Boileau, also known as Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, was a French poet and critic whose writing helped define the ideals of French classicism. L’Art poétique was published in 1674 as a verse treatise on poetic composition, literary genres and the principles of disciplined style.

The work is arranged in four books and was strongly influenced by ancient authors, particularly Horace’s Ars Poetica and Aristotle’s Poetics. Boileau emphasized clarity, order, good sense and the close relationship between natural talent and learned rules. His ideas became especially influential in debates about the proper form of French poetry and drama.

The distractors belong to the same broad cultural world but are not the author. Voltaire was an Enlightenment writer, Jean Racine was a major tragedian and Molière was a celebrated comic dramatist. Boileau was also a friend and contemporary of Racine and Molière, which helps explain the association.