Claude Parfaict

Claude Parfaict, (Paris, c.1701 – 26 June 1777) was an 18th-century French theatre historian.

François Parfaict's younger brother, Claude had for theatre the same passion than his brother, thus not only was he his collaborator for several works, but he undertook a Dramaturgie générale, ou Dictionnaire dramatique universel, a project that he did not implement.

Through protection by Madame de Pompadour, Claude Parfaict obtained a twelve hundred pounds pension which he benefited until his death. The chevalier du Coudray, who had the Lettre au public, sur la mort de MM. de Crébillon (fils), Gresset, et Parfaict printed in 1777, later added a small writing against the actors, entitled Il est temps de parler, and said it was from Parfaict. Nothing proves the authenticity and reading that piece raises suspicion that Coudray composed it himself.

But the Lettre d’Hippocrate sur la prétendue folie de Démocrite, was indeed translated from Greek by Claude Parfaict, 1780, in-12.

Sources

• Joseph-François Michaud, Louis-Gabriel Michaud, Référence:Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne : histoire par ordre alphabétique de la vie publique et privée de tous les hommes (Michaud), Paris, Michaud frères, t. 32, 1822, (p. 563-4).