Trajano Boccalini 2527732 179132624 2007-12-20T06:04:09Z Baroque1700 5499372 translate title '''Trajano Boccalini''' (b. [[1556]] in [[Loreto (AN)|Loreto]], d. [[November 16]], [[1613]] in [[Venice]]) was an [[Italy|Italian]] satirist. The son of an [[architect]], he himself adopted that profession, and it appears that he commenced late in life to apply to literary pursuits. Pursuing his studies at [[Rome]], he had the honor of teaching [[Bentivoglio]], and acquired the friendship of the cardinals Gaetano and Borghesi, as well as of other distinguished personages. By their influence he obtained various posts, and was even appointed (by [[Gregory XIII]]) governor of [[Benevento]] in the [[Papal States|states of the church]]. Here, however, he seems to have acted imprudently, and he was soon recalled to Rome, where he shortly afterwards composed his most important work, the ''Ragguagli di Parnaso'' (''News-sheet from Parnassus''), in which [[Apollo]] is represented as receiving the complaints of all who present themselves, and distributing justice according to the merits of each particular case. The book is full of light and fantastic [[satire]] on the actions and writings of his eminent contemporaries, and some of its happier hits are among the hackneyed felicities of literature. To escape, it is said, from the hostility of those whom his shafts had wounded, he returned to [[Venice]], and there, according to the register in the parochial church of [[Santa Maria Formosa]], died of [[colic]] accompanied with [[fever]] on [[November 16]], [[1613]]. It was asserted by contemporary writers that he had been beaten to death with sand-bags by a band of [[Spain|Spanish]] bravadoes, but the story seems without foundation. At the same time, it is evident from the ''Pietra del Paragone'', which appeared in [[1615]] after his death, that whatever the feelings of the Spaniards towards him, he cherished against them feelings of the bitterest hostility. The only government which was exempt from his attacks is that of Venice, a city for which he seems to have had a special affection. The ''Ragguagli'', first printed in [[1612]], has frequently been republished. The ''Pietra'' has been translated into French, German, English and Latin; the English translator was [[Henry, Earl of Monmouth]], his version being entitled ''The Politicke Touchstone'' (London, 1674). Another posthumous publication of Boccalini was his ''Commentarii sopra Cornelio Tacito'' (Geneva, 1669). Many of his manuscripts are preserved still unprinted. ==References== *{{1911}} ==External links== *{{worldcat id|lccn-n82-66489}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Boccalini, Trajano}} [[Category:1556 births]] [[Category:1613 deaths]] [[Category:Italian satirists]] [[de:Traiano Boccalini]] [[es:Traiano Boccalini]] [[fr:Trajano Boccalini]]