- Trajano Boccalini
Trajano Boccalini (b. 1556 in Loreto, d.
November 16 ,1613 inVenice ) was an Italian satirist.The son of an
architect , he himself adopted that profession, and it appears that he commenced late in life to apply to literary pursuits. Pursuing his studies atRome , he had the honor of teachingBentivoglio , and acquired the friendship of the cardinals Gaetano and Borghesi, as well as of other distinguished personages. By their influence he obtained various posts, and was even appointed (byGregory XIII ) governor ofBenevento in the states of the church. Here, however, he seems to have acted imprudently, and he was soon recalled to Rome, where he shortly afterwards composed his most important work, the "Ragguagli di Parnaso" ("News-sheet from Parnassus"), in whichApollo is represented as receiving the complaints of all who present themselves, and distributing justice according to the merits of each particular case. The book is full of light and fantasticsatire on the actions and writings of his eminent contemporaries, and some of its happier hits are among the hackneyed felicities of literature.To escape, it is said, from the hostility of those whom his shafts had wounded, he returned to
Venice , and there, according to the register in the parochial church ofSanta Maria Formosa , died ofcolic accompanied withfever onNovember 16 ,1613 . It was asserted by contemporary writers that he had been beaten to death with sand-bags by a band of Spanish bravadoes, but the story seems without foundation. At the same time, it is evident from the "Pietra del Paragone", which appeared in 1615 after his death, that whatever the feelings of the Spaniards towards him, he cherished against them feelings of the bitterest hostility. The only government which was exempt from his attacks is that of Venice, a city for which he seems to have had a special affection.The "Ragguagli", first printed in 1612, has frequently been republished. The "Pietra" has been translated into French, German, English and Latin; the English translator was
Henry, Earl of Monmouth , his version being entitled "The Politicke Touchstone" (London, 1674). Another posthumous publication of Boccalini was his "Commentarii sopra Cornelio Tacito" (Geneva, 1669). Many of his manuscripts are preserved still unprinted.References
*1911
External links
*worldcat id|lccn-n82-66489
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