Francesco de Sanctis
Encyclopedia
Francesco de Sanctis was an Italian
literary critic, considered the most important scholar of Italian language and literature in the 19th century.
He was born at Morra Irpina
(Campania
) to a family of middle-class landowners. After the high school studies in Naples
, from 1836 he was educated at the free institute of the Marchese Basilio Puoti.
Becoming a teacher in a private school of his own, he made a name as a profound student of literature; and after the troubles of 1848, when he held office under the revolutionary government and was imprisoned for three years at Naples
, his reputation as a lecturer on Dante
at Turin
brought him the appointment of professor at ETH Zürich
in 1856.
He returned to Naples as minister of public instruction in 1860, and filled the same post under the Italian monarchy in 1861, 1878 and 1879, having in 1861 become a deputy in the Italian chamber. In 1871 he was made professor of comparative literature
at Naples University.
As a literary critic, De Sanctis took a very high place, notably with his Storia della letteratura italiana
and with his critical studies, published in several volumes, some of them since his death at Naples in 1883.
De Sanctis had many faithful disciples, among whom Benedetto Croce
was to achieve the most fame. His chief contribution as philosopher was to aesthetics; his influence upon Italian literary criticism remains strong up to the present time.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
literary critic, considered the most important scholar of Italian language and literature in the 19th century.
He was born at Morra Irpina
Morra De Sanctis
Morra De Sanctis is a town and comune in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy....
(Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
) to a family of middle-class landowners. After the high school studies in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, from 1836 he was educated at the free institute of the Marchese Basilio Puoti.
Becoming a teacher in a private school of his own, he made a name as a profound student of literature; and after the troubles of 1848, when he held office under the revolutionary government and was imprisoned for three years at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, his reputation as a lecturer on Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
at Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
brought him the appointment of professor at ETH Zürich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
in 1856.
He returned to Naples as minister of public instruction in 1860, and filled the same post under the Italian monarchy in 1861, 1878 and 1879, having in 1861 become a deputy in the Italian chamber. In 1871 he was made professor of comparative literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
at Naples University.
As a literary critic, De Sanctis took a very high place, notably with his Storia della letteratura italiana
Storia della letteratura italiana (De Sanctis)
The Storia della letteratura italiana is an essay written by Italian literary critic Francesco de Sanctis, published by Morano in two volumes in 1870 and 1871....
and with his critical studies, published in several volumes, some of them since his death at Naples in 1883.
De Sanctis had many faithful disciples, among whom Benedetto Croce
Benedetto Croce
Benedetto Croce was an Italian idealist philosopher, and occasionally also politician. He wrote on numerous topics, including philosophy, history, methodology of history writing and aesthetics, and was a prominent liberal, although he opposed laissez-faire free trade...
was to achieve the most fame. His chief contribution as philosopher was to aesthetics; his influence upon Italian literary criticism remains strong up to the present time.