Ireneo Affò
Encyclopedia
Ireneo Affò known in Italy as Irenaeus, was an art historian, writer, and numismatist
Italian belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Observant, or Franciscan friar.
in the province of Parma
, in Emilia-Romagna
in Northern Italy
. It became the home of the opera
composer
Giuseppe Verdi
when he moved there in 1824.
Observing his early inclination for drawing and poetry, Affò's father encouraged him to study in the workshop of the painter and sculptor, Pietro Balestra. After a short time, Affò began pursuing studies in fine arts, demonstrating abilities in the writing.
In his youth, Affò became a friar in the branch of the Franciscan order. He continued to pursue his writing, which included poetry. He composed a song to the Virgin Mary, as well as another on Noah's Ark
. He began to cultivate the study of learning, conducting extensive historical research of Italy and the surrounding area.
Ferdinand, Duke of Parma
sent Affò to serve as a professor of philosophy at Guastalla
, where he oversaw the publication of two ancient codices
, including Angelo Poliziano
's Orpheus, and the newly discovered archive of the Holy Spirit in Reggio Emilia
. He then edited the critical edition of poetic works of St. Francis of Assisi
. His major work in the literary field is still represented by the first five volumes of Memoirs of writers and scholars of Parma (1789 – 1797). While at Guastalla
, Affò wrote his History of the city and duchy of Guastalla. He wrote also, History of Parma, until 1346, as well as other works connected with the ancient history of Italy. Affò's writing became highly respected throughout Italy.
In 1778, Affò was called to Parma
as deputy librarian of the Court Paciaudi Mary Paul. While his writing covered a wide variety of subjects, his research was uncannily accurate and valued at the library.
In 1785, he became director of the Palatine Library
, and later became historiographer
of the Journal of the duchy and honorary Professor of History at the university. In 1792, Affò began publishing the four volumes of the History of Parma.
He died at the age of 56, in the convent of Busseto, when he contracted typhus fever. He left a manuscript History of Peter Louis Farnese. Girolamo Tiraboschi
, an Italian literary critic and historian of Italian literature often quotes his works. His Poetical Dictionary and Memoirs, as well as other pieces are inserted in the Raccolta Ferrarese di Opuscoli.
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
Italian belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Observant, or Franciscan friar.
Personal background
Affò was born in 1741, in Busseto, which is a communeCommune
Commune may refer to:In society:* Commune, a human community in which resources are shared* Commune , a township or municipality* One of the Communes of France* An Italian Comune...
in the province of Parma
Province of Parma
The Province of Parma is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Parma.It has an area of 3,449 km², and a total population of 413,198...
, in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
in Northern Italy
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...
. It became the home of the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
when he moved there in 1824.
Observing his early inclination for drawing and poetry, Affò's father encouraged him to study in the workshop of the painter and sculptor, Pietro Balestra. After a short time, Affò began pursuing studies in fine arts, demonstrating abilities in the writing.
In his youth, Affò became a friar in the branch of the Franciscan order. He continued to pursue his writing, which included poetry. He composed a song to the Virgin Mary, as well as another on Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
. He began to cultivate the study of learning, conducting extensive historical research of Italy and the surrounding area.
Ferdinand, Duke of Parma
Ferdinand, Duke of Parma
Ferdinand Maria Philip Louis Sebastian Francis James of Parma was Duke of Parma from 1765 to 1802. He was the second child and only son of Philip, Duke of Parma and Princess Louise-Élisabeth of France, eldest daughter of Louis XV of France and Maria Leszczyńska...
sent Affò to serve as a professor of philosophy at Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
, where he oversaw the publication of two ancient codices
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
, including Angelo Poliziano
Poliziano
Angelo Ambrogini, commonly known by his nickname, anglicized as Politian, Italian Poliziano, Latin Politianus was an Italian Renaissance classical scholar and poet, one of the revivers of Humanist Latin...
's Orpheus, and the newly discovered archive of the Holy Spirit in Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
. He then edited the critical edition of poetic works of St. Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
. His major work in the literary field is still represented by the first five volumes of Memoirs of writers and scholars of Parma (1789 – 1797). While at Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
, Affò wrote his History of the city and duchy of Guastalla. He wrote also, History of Parma, until 1346, as well as other works connected with the ancient history of Italy. Affò's writing became highly respected throughout Italy.
In 1778, Affò was called to Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
as deputy librarian of the Court Paciaudi Mary Paul. While his writing covered a wide variety of subjects, his research was uncannily accurate and valued at the library.
In 1785, he became director of the Palatine Library
Bibliotheca Palatina
The Bibliotheca Palatina of Heidelberg was the most important library of the German Renaissance, numbering approximately 5,000 printed books and 3,524 manuscripts....
, and later became historiographer
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
of the Journal of the duchy and honorary Professor of History at the university. In 1792, Affò began publishing the four volumes of the History of Parma.
He died at the age of 56, in the convent of Busseto, when he contracted typhus fever. He left a manuscript History of Peter Louis Farnese. Girolamo Tiraboschi
Girolamo Tiraboschi
Girolamo Tiraboschi was an Italian literary critic, the first historian of Italian literature.-Biography:Born in Bergamo, he studied at the Jesuit college in Monza, entered the order, and was appointed in 1755 professor of eloquence in the University of Milan...
, an Italian literary critic and historian of Italian literature often quotes his works. His Poetical Dictionary and Memoirs, as well as other pieces are inserted in the Raccolta Ferrarese di Opuscoli.
Writings
- History of the city and duchy of Guastalla, 4 volumes, Parma, 1785–1788
- Memoirs of writers and scholars of Parma, 5 volumes, Parma, 1789–1797, work continued by Pezzana Angelo, 1825–1833
- History of Parma, until 1346, 4 volumes, Parma, 1793–1795
- The Mint coin and Parmesan, Parma 1788, work integrated and continued by Michael Lopez, 1868–1874
- Life of Aloysius Gonzaga said Rodomont, Parma 1780