Giuseppe Parini
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Parini was an Italian
Enlightenment
satirist and poet
of the neoclassic period
.
(later rechristened Bosisio Parini in his honour) in Brianza
, Lombardy
. His father, who was a petty silk trader, sent him to Milan under the care of his grandaunt: there he studied under the Barnabites
in the Academy Arcimboldi, sustaining himself in the meantime by copying manuscripts. In 1741 his grandaunt left him a monthly payment, at the condition that he would enter priesthood. Parini was thus ordained, although his religious studies were not profitable, both due to his need to work in a lawyer office during the free time, and both to his intolerance to the old fashioned teaching methods.
In 1752, he published at Lugano
, under the pseudonym of "Ripano Eupilino", a small volume of selected verses, Alcune poesie, which secured his election to the Accademia dei Trasformati at Milan, as well as to the Accademia dell'Arcadia at Rome. His poem, Il Giorno
(The Day, 1763), consisting of ironic instructions to a young nobleman as to the best method of spending his mornings, marked a distinct advance in Italian blank verse. It at once established Parini's popularity and influence, and two years later a continuation of the same theme was published under the title of Il Mezzogiorno.
The Austrian plenipotentiary
, Count Firmian, interested himself in procuring the poet's advancement, appointing him in the first place as editor of the Milan Gazette, and in 1769, in despite of the Jesuits, to a specially created chair of belles lettres in the Palatine school. On the French occupation of Milan he was appointed magistrate by Napoleon, but almost immediately retired to resume his literary work and to complete Il Vespro and La Notte (published after his death), which, with two other poems already mentioned, compose what is collectively entitled Il Giorno. Among other poems his rather artificial Odi, composed between 1757 and 1795, have appeared in various editions. He was associated with the Accademia della Crusca
.
Parini's work was accepted by younger poets mainly as a lesson in morality and freedom of thought. Ugo Foscolo
, who met Parini in Milan, portrayed him as a serious, dignified person in Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis and accused the rich and corrupt town which had forgotten him, in Dei sepolcri
.
He died in August 1799. A statue of the poet occupies a place of honor in Milan's busy Piazzale Cordusio
. His family still lives on, with Simon Cereda-Parini being the youngest known relative to continue the name to this day.
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...
Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
satirist 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...
of the neoclassic period
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
.
Biography
Parini (originally spelled Parino) was born in BosisioBosisio Parini
Bosisio Parini is a comune in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 40 km north of Milan and about 11 km southwest of Lecco, on the shores of the Lake of Pusiano....
(later rechristened Bosisio Parini in his honour) in Brianza
Brianza
thumb|250px|The [[Corni di Canzo]].Brianza is a geographical area at the foot of the Alps, in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy.-Geography:...
, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
. His father, who was a petty silk trader, sent him to Milan under the care of his grandaunt: there he studied under the Barnabites
Barnabites
The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic order.-Establishment of the Order :It was founded in 1530 by three Italian noblemen: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Latin: Clerici Regulares Sancti Pauli, abbr. B.) is a Roman Catholic...
in the Academy Arcimboldi, sustaining himself in the meantime by copying manuscripts. In 1741 his grandaunt left him a monthly payment, at the condition that he would enter priesthood. Parini was thus ordained, although his religious studies were not profitable, both due to his need to work in a lawyer office during the free time, and both to his intolerance to the old fashioned teaching methods.
In 1752, he published at Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
, under the pseudonym of "Ripano Eupilino", a small volume of selected verses, Alcune poesie, which secured his election to the Accademia dei Trasformati at Milan, as well as to the Accademia dell'Arcadia at Rome. His poem, Il Giorno
Il Giorno
Il giorno is a poem written by Giuseppe Parini and published in 1763 . It is an ironic and satirical representation of the aristocracy of his time. His poem represents the beginning of polite literature in Italy....
(The Day, 1763), consisting of ironic instructions to a young nobleman as to the best method of spending his mornings, marked a distinct advance in Italian blank verse. It at once established Parini's popularity and influence, and two years later a continuation of the same theme was published under the title of Il Mezzogiorno.
The Austrian plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
, Count Firmian, interested himself in procuring the poet's advancement, appointing him in the first place as editor of the Milan Gazette, and in 1769, in despite of the Jesuits, to a specially created chair of belles lettres in the Palatine school. On the French occupation of Milan he was appointed magistrate by Napoleon, but almost immediately retired to resume his literary work and to complete Il Vespro and La Notte (published after his death), which, with two other poems already mentioned, compose what is collectively entitled Il Giorno. Among other poems his rather artificial Odi, composed between 1757 and 1795, have appeared in various editions. He was associated with the Accademia della Crusca
Accademia della Crusca
The Accademia della Crusca is an Italian society for scholars and Italian linguists and philologists established in Florence. After the Accademia Cosentina, it is the oldest Italian academy still in existence...
.
Parini's work was accepted by younger poets mainly as a lesson in morality and freedom of thought. Ugo Foscolo
Ugo Foscolo
Ugo Foscolo , born Niccolò Foscolo, was an Italian writer, revolutionary and poet.-Biography:Foscolo was born on the Ionian island of Zakynthos...
, who met Parini in Milan, portrayed him as a serious, dignified person in Ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis and accused the rich and corrupt town which had forgotten him, in Dei sepolcri
Dei sepolcri
Dei sepolcri is a poem written by the Italian poet, Ugo Foscolo in 1806 and published in 1807. It consists of 295 hendecasyllabic verses. The carme is dedicated to another poet, Ippolito Pindemonte, with whom Foscolo had been discussing the recent Napoleonic law regarding tombs.Foscolo has...
.
He died in August 1799. A statue of the poet occupies a place of honor in Milan's busy Piazzale Cordusio
Piazzale Cordusio
Piazza Cordusio is a square in central Milan, Italy. The piazza takes its name from the Cors Ducis which was found in the square during Longobard times. It is well-known for its several turn-of-the-19th-century Neoclassical, eclectic and Art Nouveau buildings, banks and post offices...
. His family still lives on, with Simon Cereda-Parini being the youngest known relative to continue the name to this day.
Sources
- ——, and Herbert Morris Bower. The Day Morning, Midday, Evening, Night : a Poem. Westport, Conn: Hyperion Press, 1978. ISBN 0883555921