Ignacio de Luzán

Ignacio de Luzán (Zaragoza, Spain, 28 March 1702-1754) was a Spanish scholar and critic.He studied law in Palermo, Sicily, Italy, graduating in jurisprudence in Catania, Sicily, Italy, returning to Spain in 1733, being a Secretary of the Spanish Embassy in Paris since 1747, aged 45.

He is best known as the author of "La poética", (1737), second edition in 1789, a statement on the rules of neoclassical poetry.

In 1751, three years before his death aged 52 he published an interesting book on French cultural developments till the middle of the 18th Century, "Memorias Literarias de Paris : Actual Estado y Methodo de sus Estudios", dedicated to the Jesuit Father Francisco de Ravago, Confessor of the King.

He was a translator of "Titus Clemency", from the italian, (Rome), of widely known in Europe teatrical author Pietro Metastasio, i.e. Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, better known by his pseudonym of Metastasio, (January 3, 1698 – April 12, 1782) as well as "The reason against the fashion", of the French author Pierre-Claude Nivelle de La Chaussée, (14 February 1692 in Paris; † 14 May 1754 in Paris).

Metastasio was widely translated in Spain because he was a closed friend of Farinelli, (January 24, 1705 – September 16, 1782), the stage name of Carlo Maria Broschi, one of the most famous Italian soprano castrato singers of the 18th century, Royal Singer of Italian Opera to Kings Felipe V de España and Fernando VI de España, since 1737. Previously he had singed in many Italian Courts, Vienna, Paris, London, etc.

Luzán was also a member of the "Consejo de Hacienda", (the Spanish Exchequer Council), de la "Junta de Comercio", (Spanish Trade Bureau), "superintendente de la Casa de la Moneda", (Head Controller of the Royal Mint), a treasurer of the Royal Library and a Member of the Spanish Academy of History, besides the Spanish Language one, and the "Academia de San Fernando", (Royal Academy of Arts).

ome bibliography

**J. G. ROBERTSON. "Italian Influence in Spain : Ignacio de Luzán" in the book "Studies in the Genesis of Rmantic Theory in Eighteenth century". Cambridge, (1923).

**J. CANO. "La poética de Luzán". Toronto University Press, 141 pages, (1928).

**G. MAKOWIECKA. "Luzán y su "Poética". Barcelona, Editorial Planeta, 259 page, (1973).

**I. L. Mc CLELLAND."Ignacio de Luzán" . New York. Twayne Publications, 198 pages, (1973).

**F. AGUILAR PIÑAL. "Bibliografía fundamental de la literatura española, siglo XVIII". Colección "TEMAS". Sociedad General Española de Librería, edit.ISBN 84-7143-100-9. Madrid, (1976), 304 pages.

**"Historia de la Literatura Española", in vol 3, ed. Orgaz S.A. for Plaza & Janés Editores, ISBN 84- 01-60688-8. Directed by J. M. PRADO, E. PALACIOS FERNANDEZ, V. ORTRGA, A. VIOLA, J. PARIS,