Antonio Francesco Grazzini
Encyclopedia
Antonio Francesco Grazzini (March 22, 1503 – February 18, 1584) was an Italian
author.
of a good family, but there is no record of his upbringing and education. He probably began to practise as an apothecary
as a youth. In 1540 he co-founded the Accademia degli Umidi ("Academy of the Humid") afterwards called della Fiorentina, and later took a leading role in the establishment of the more famous Accademia della Crusca
, which published his Vocabulario of words accepted as the purest Italian
. To both societies he was known as Il Lasca or Leuciscus, a pseudonym
which is still frequently substituted for his proper name.
Grazzini was temperamental, his life consequently enlivened or disturbed by various literary quarrels. His Umidi brethren expelled him for a time, because of his ruthless criticism of the Arameans, a party of academicians who maintained that the Florentine language
was derived from Hebrew
, Chaldee, or some other branch of the Semitic. He was readmitted in 1566, when his friend Salviati was consul.
II Lasca ranks as one of the great masters of Tuscan prose. His style is flexible and abundantly idiomatic, but without affectation. It has the force and freshness of popular speech, whilst retaining a flavour of academic culture.
A number of miscellaneous poems, a few letters and Four Orations to the Cross complete the list of Grazzini's works.
He also edited the works of Francesco Berni
, and collected Tutti I trionfi, larri, mascherate o canti carnascialeschi, andati per Firenze dal tempo del Magnifico Lorenzo vecchio de 'Medici
fino all'anno 1559. In 1868 Adamo Rossi published in his Ricerche per le biblioteche di Perugia three novelle by Grazzini, from a manuscript of the 16th century in the Comunale of Perugia; and in 1870 a small collection of those poems which have been left unpublished by previous editors appeared at Poggibonsi, Alcune poesie inedite.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
author.
Biography
He was born at FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
of a good family, but there is no record of his upbringing and education. He probably began to practise as an apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
as a youth. In 1540 he co-founded the Accademia degli Umidi ("Academy of the Humid") afterwards called della Fiorentina, and later took a leading role in the establishment of the more famous 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...
, which published his Vocabulario of words accepted as the purest Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
. To both societies he was known as Il Lasca or Leuciscus, a pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
which is still frequently substituted for his proper name.
Grazzini was temperamental, his life consequently enlivened or disturbed by various literary quarrels. His Umidi brethren expelled him for a time, because of his ruthless criticism of the Arameans, a party of academicians who maintained that the Florentine language
Florentine language
The Florentine language was the language spoken in the Italian city of Florence. It became the national language of the Kingdom of Italy when it was established in 1861. It is a form of Tuscan dialect....
was derived from Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, Chaldee, or some other branch of the Semitic. He was readmitted in 1566, when his friend Salviati was consul.
II Lasca ranks as one of the great masters of Tuscan prose. His style is flexible and abundantly idiomatic, but without affectation. It has the force and freshness of popular speech, whilst retaining a flavour of academic culture.
Main works
- Le Cene (1756), a collection of stories in the manner of BoccaccioGiovanni BoccaccioGiovanni Boccaccio was an Italian author and poet, a friend, student, and correspondent of Petrarch, an important Renaissance humanist and the author of a number of notable works including the Decameron, On Famous Women, and his poetry in the Italian vernacular...
, and a number of prose comedies - La Gelosia (1568)
- La Spirit ala (1561)
- I Parent adi
- La Arenga
- La Sibilla
- La Pinzochera
- L'Arzigogolo
A number of miscellaneous poems, a few letters and Four Orations to the Cross complete the list of Grazzini's works.
He also edited the works of Francesco Berni
Francesco Berni
Francesco Berni was an Italian poet. He is credited for beginning what is now known as "Bernesque poetry", a serio-comedic type of poetry with elements of satire.-Life:...
, and collected Tutti I trionfi, larri, mascherate o canti carnascialeschi, andati per Firenze dal tempo del Magnifico Lorenzo vecchio de 'Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent by contemporary Florentines, he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets...
fino all'anno 1559. In 1868 Adamo Rossi published in his Ricerche per le biblioteche di Perugia three novelle by Grazzini, from a manuscript of the 16th century in the Comunale of Perugia; and in 1870 a small collection of those poems which have been left unpublished by previous editors appeared at Poggibonsi, Alcune poesie inedite.