Francesco Scipione Maffei (; 1 June 1675 – 11 February 1755) was a
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
writer and
art critic
An art critic is a person who is specialized in analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating art. Their written critiques or reviews contribute to art criticism and they are published in newspapers, magazines, books, exhibition brochures, and catalogue ...
, author of many articles and plays. An
antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...
with a
humanist
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential and agency of human beings. It considers human beings the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.
The meaning of the term "humani ...
education whose publications on
Etruscan __NOTOC__
Etruscan may refer to:
Ancient civilization
*The Etruscan language, an extinct language in ancient Italy
*Something derived from or related to the Etruscan civilization
**Etruscan architecture
**Etruscan art
**Etruscan cities
** Etrusca ...
antiquities stand as
incunable
In the history of printing, an incunable or incunabulum (plural incunables or incunabula, respectively), is a book, pamphlet, or broadside that was printed in the earliest stages of printing in Europe, up to the year 1500. Incunabula were pr ...
s of
Etruscology
Etruscology is the study of the ancient civilization of the Etruscans in Italy, which was incorporated into an expanding Roman Empire during the period of Rome's Middle Republic. Since the Etruscans were politically and culturally influential in pr ...
, he engaged in running skirmishes in print with his rival in the field of antiquities,
Antonio Francesco Gori.
Early career
Maffei was of the illustrious family that originated in
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label= Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nat ...
; his brother was General Alessandro Maffei, whose memoirs he edited and published. He studied for five years in
Parma
Parma (; egl, Pärma, ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmigiano-Reggiano, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,292 ...
, at the Jesuit College, and afterwards, from 1698, at Rome,
[ where he became a member of the ]Accademia degli Arcadi
The Accademia degli Arcadi or Accademia dell'Arcadia, "Academy of Arcadia" or "Academy of the Arcadians", was an Italian literary academy founded in Rome in 1690. The full Italian official name was Pontificia Accademia degli Arcadi.
History
F ...
; on his return to Verona he established a local ''Arcadia''.
In 1703, he volunteered to fight for Bavaria in the War of Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...
, and saw action in 1704 at the Battle of Schellenberg
The Battle of Schellenberg, also known as the Battle of Donauwörth, was fought on 2 July 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The engagement was part of the Duke of Marlborough's campaign to save the Habsburg capital of Vienna from a ...
, near Donauwörth
Donauwörth () is a town and the capital of the Donau-Ries district in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. It is said to have been founded by two fishermen where the rivers Danube (Donau) and Wörnitz meet. The city is part of the scenic route called "Roman ...
. His brother, Alessandro
Alessandro is both a given name and a surname, the Italian form of the name Alexander. Notable people with the name include:
People with the given name Alessandro
* Alessandro Allori (1535–1607), Italian portrait painter
* Alessandro Baricco ...
, was second in command at the battle.
In 1709, he went to Padua, where he briefly collaborated with Apostolo Zeno
Apostolo Zeno (11 December 1668 in Venice – 11 November 1750 in Venice) was a Venetian poet, librettist, journalist, and man of letters.
Early life
Apostolo Zeno was born in Venice to a colonial branch of the Zeno family, an ancient Venet ...
and Antonio Valisnieri in editing the ambitious literary periodical the ''Giornale de' Letterati d'Italia'', which had but a short career.[
]
Theatre projects
Subsequently, an acquaintance with the actor Riccoboni led him to exert himself for the improvement of dramatic art in Italy[ and a revitalized Italian theatre. His masterpiece, the tragedy '' Merope'', 1714, brought him popularity in Europe; it was famed for its rapid action and the elimination of the ]prologue
A prologue or prolog (from Greek πρόλογος ''prólogos'', from πρό ''pró'', "before" and λόγος ''lógos'', "word") is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier story that ...
and chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
. Other works for the theatre include ''Teatro Italiano'', a small collection of works for presentation on the stage, in 1723–1725; and ''Le Ceremonie'', an original comedy, in 1728. A complete edition of his works appeared at Venice
Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...
(28 vols. 8vo in 1790).[
]
His collections and antiquarian publications
In 1710, he spent some time studying the manuscripts in the Royal Library at Turin; while there he arranged the collection of objects of art which the late Carlo Emanuele, Duke of Savoy had brought from Rome. From 1718 he became especially interested in the archaeology of his native town, and his investigations resulted in the valuable ''Verona illustrata'' (1731–1732).[
Maffei devoted the years 1732–1736 to travel in France, England, the ]Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
and Germany. In 1732 he went to the south of France for purposes of archaeological research and from there he went to Paris, where he remained four years and was received as member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, f ...
. On a visit to London in 1736, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
and received at Oxford University, where he was honoured with a doctoral degree; he returned through Holland and Germany to Verona. He was a friend of Francesco Algarotti
Count Francesco Algarotti (11 December 1712 – 3 May 1764) was an Italian polymath, philosopher, poet, essayist, anglophile, art critic and art collector. He was a man of broad knowledge, an expert in Newtonianism, architecture and opera. He wa ...
, who wrote him many letters.
On his return to Verona, he built a museum, which he bequeathed, together with his valuable archaeological and artistic collection, to his native city. He bequeathed his collection of manuscripts to the canons of the cathedral of Verona. In later life he became interested in astronomy
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...
and physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
, and built an observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...
to study the stars.
Philosophical Treatises
Upon returning from his journey in 1736, Maffei wrote the ''Consiglio politico'' addressed to the Venetian government. In the treatise, Maffei questioned the structure of Venice's aristocratic government, and suggested the opening of public offices to the elites of the Venetian mainland domains. Ultimately, the ''Consiglio politico'' advocated introducing into the government of the Republic of Venice elements of political representation, which Maffei had identified in his antiquarian studies of the Roman constitution, and later observed in foreign lands during his European travels.
Maffei did not actually present his ''Consiglio politico'' to the Venetian government. The treatise was only published posthumously, shortly before the fall of the Republic of Venice
The fall of the Republic of Venice was a series of events that culminated on 12 May 1797 in the dissolution and dismemberment of the Republic of Venice at the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte and Habsburg Austria.
In 1796, the young general Napoleon ...
in 1797. It circulated during the Risorgimento
The unification of Italy ( it, Unità d'Italia ), also known as the ''Risorgimento'' (, ; ), was the 19th-century political and social movement that resulted in the consolidation of different states of the Italian Peninsula into a single ...
, and might have influenced Carlo Cattaneo's federalist ideas.
The Jesuits requested Maffei to write in defence of the orthodox system of grace
Grace may refer to:
Places United States
* Grace, Idaho, a city
* Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois
* Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office
* Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...
against the doctrine of the Jansenists
Jansenism was an early modern theological movement within Catholicism, primarily active in the Kingdom of France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. It was declared a heresy by ...
, which resulted in his ''Istoria teologica delle doctrine e delle opinione corse ne cinque primo secoli della chiesa in proposito della divina grazia, del libero arbitrio e della predestinazione'', published at Trent
Trent may refer to:
Places Italy
* Trento in northern Italy, site of the Council of Trent United Kingdom
* Trent, Dorset, England, United Kingdom Germany
* Trent, Germany, a municipality on the island of Rügen United States
* Trent, California, ...
, 1742.
He also published a letter and a book arguing against the existence of supernatural magic
Magic or Magick most commonly refers to:
* Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces
* Ceremonial magic, encompasses a wide variety of rituals of magic
* Magical thinking, the belief that unrela ...
and witches, that mixes both enlightenment thinking and theologic arguments based on scripture.
This letter on magic was subsequently printed in Augustin Calmet
Antoine Augustin Calmet, O.S.B. (26 February 167225 October 1757), a French Benedictine monk, was born at Ménil-la-Horgne, then in the Duchy of Bar, part of the Holy Roman Empire (now the French department of Meuse, located in the region of L ...
's dissertation on magic and vampires titled Traité sur les apparitions des esprits et sur les vampires ou les revenans de Hongrie, de Moravie, &c. (1751).
Posthumous reputation
The secondary school 'Liceo Maffei' in Verona is named in his honour.
He is also known for having written a description of Bartolomeo Cristofori
Bartolomeo Cristofori di Francesco (; May 4, 1655 – January 27, 1731) was an Italian maker of musical instruments famous for inventing the piano.
Life
The available source materials on Cristofori's life include his birth and death recor ...
's invention of a hammer mechanism for the harpsichord, work widely considered to comprise the invention of the piano. Maffei published the article in the ''Giornale de' Letterati d’Italia'' in 1711. Maffei was one of the editors of the Giornale. Maffei reprinted the article in his ''Rime e Prose'', a collection of some of his writings, published in Venice in 1719.
The Italian poet and translator Ippolito Pindemonte
Ippolito Pindemonte (November 13, 1753 – November 18, 1828) was an Italian poet. He was educated at the Collegio di San Carlo in Modena, but otherwise spent most of his life in Verona.
He was born into an aristocratic family, and travelled a ...
published a biographical elegy on his friend. ''Elogio del marchese Scipione Maffei''
1790.
Selected publications
*''Per la nascita del principe di Piemonte genteliaco'' (Rome, 1699); *''Conclusioni di amore'' (Verona, 1702);
*''La prima radunanza della colonia arcadica Veronese'' (Cervia, 1705);
*''La scienza cavalleresca'' (Rome, 1710), a treatise against duelling;
*''De fabula equestris ordinis Constantiniani'' (Zurich, 1712; Paris, 1714), written to prove that the orders of knighthood all date only from the Crusades and affording valuable information concerning the aristocracy of the early Middle Ages;
*
*''Dell' antica condizione di Verona'' (Venice, 1719);
*''Istoria diplomatica'' (Mantua, 1727), publishing original documents;
''Teatro del Marchese Maffei''
(Venice, 1730), his collected works for the theater, including ''La Merope'', ''La Ceremonie'', ''La Fida Ninfa'' ;
*
*
*''Consiglio politico finora inedito presentato al governo veneto nell'anno 1736'' (1736; published in Venice, 1797);
*''Graecorum siglae lapidariae collectae atque explicatae'' (Verona, 1746);
*''Della formazione dei fulmini'' (Verona, 1747);
*
*''Il Raguet'' (Verona, 1787), a comedy;
*
*''Supplemento al Tesoro delle Inscrizioni di Muratori'' (Lucca, 1765); this was published by Donati according to notes collected by Maffei for a complete work on inscriptions
*
*
Besides these original works Maffei also collaborated in editions of the works of St. Hilary (Verona, 1730), St. Jerome (1734), and St. Zeno (1739).
See also
''Mérope
''Mérope'' (original French title: ''La Mérope Française'') is a tragedy in five acts by Voltaire. The text is a reworking by Voltaire of the Italian tragedy ''Merope'' (1713) by Scipione Maffei, dating from 1736/1737. The play premiered in 17 ...
'' - a tragedy by Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his ...
based on an adaptation of Maffei's drama
Notes
References
*
* Falkner, James. ''Blenheim 1704: Marlborough's Greatest Victory''. Pen & Sword.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maffei, Francesco Scipione, Marchese Di
1675 births
1755 deaths
Writers from Verona
Italian soldiers
17th-century Italian writers
18th-century Italian writers
18th-century Italian male writers
Fellows of the Royal Society
Italian antiquarians
Etruscan scholars