Giovanni Mario Crescimbeni
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Mario Crescimbeni (October 9, 1663 – March 8, 1728) was an Italian
critic
and poet
. Crescimbeni was born in Macerata
, which was then part of the Papal States
.
Born in Macerata
and educated by a French priest at Rome
, he entered the Jesuits' college of his native town, where he produced a tragedy on the story of Darius, and versified the Pharsalia
. In 1679 he received the degree of doctor of laws, and in 1680 he moved again to Rome.
The study of Vincenzo Filicaja and Niccolò Leonico having convinced him that he and all his contemporaries were working in a wrong direction, he resolved to attempt a general reform. In 1690, in conjunction with fourteen others, he founded the celebrated Academy of Arcadians, and began the contest against false taste and its adherents. The academy was most successful; branch societies were opened in all the principal cities of Italy; and the influence of Giambattista Marino, opposed by the simplicity and elegance of such models as Angelo di Costanzo
, soon died away.
Crescimbeni officiated as secretary to the Arcadians for thirty-eight years. In 1705 he was made canon
of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; in 1715 he obtained the chief curacy attached to the same church; and about two months before he died (1728) he was admitted a member of the order of Jesus
. His principal work is the Istoria della volgar poesia (1698), an estimate of all the poets of Italy, past and contemporary, which may yet be consulted with advantage.
The most important of his numerous other publications are the Commentarii (5 volumes, 1702–1711), and La Bellezza della volgar poezia (1700).
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...
critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Crescimbeni was born in Macerata
Macerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
, which was then part of the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
.
Born in Macerata
Macerata
Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the capital of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.The historical city center is located on a hill between the Chienti and Potenza rivers. It consisted of the Picenes city named Ricina, then, after the romanization, Recina and Helvia Recina...
and educated by a French priest at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, he entered the Jesuits' college of his native town, where he produced a tragedy on the story of Darius, and versified the Pharsalia
Pharsalia
The Pharsalia is a Roman epic poem by the poet Lucan, telling of the civil war between Julius Caesar and the forces of the Roman Senate led by Pompey the Great...
. In 1679 he received the degree of doctor of laws, and in 1680 he moved again to Rome.
Angelo di Costanzo
Angelo di Costanzo , Italian historian and poet, was born at Naples about 1507.He lived in a literary circle, and fell in love with the beautiful Vittoria Colonna...
, soon died away.
Crescimbeni officiated as secretary to the Arcadians for thirty-eight years. In 1705 he was made canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Santa Maria in Cosmedin; in 1715 he obtained the chief curacy attached to the same church; and about two months before he died (1728) he was admitted a member of the order of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. His principal work is the Istoria della volgar poesia (1698), an estimate of all the poets of Italy, past and contemporary, which may yet be consulted with advantage.
The most important of his numerous other publications are the Commentarii (5 volumes, 1702–1711), and La Bellezza della volgar poezia (1700).