See Guardi’s painting in the Louvre.
3
See Guardi’s painting in the Louvre that depicts the Corpus Christi procession at Saint Mark’s Square.
Примечания
1
Francisco Morosini, after experiencing the effects of Venice’s political jealousy, was appointed Generalissimo. In 1688, honour was bestowed upon his glorious name. He was then elected doge. The pope sent him a sword and helmet because of his role as Defender of the Faith.
2
See Guardi’s painting in the Louvre.
3
See Guardi’s painting in the Louvre that depicts the Corpus Christi procession at Saint Mark’s Square.
4
The libro d’oro was destroyed in 1797 during the wars of the Republic, but some copies still exist. Like Venice, several other Italian cities had nobility registries.
5
Apostolo Zeno, born in 1668, was not a noble, in the least, because his grandfather was not registered in the libro d’oro, even though he had illustrious roots. Unable to obtain a post at Saint Mark’s library, he accepted an offer from Emperor Charles VI, who granted him the position of court poet and historian. After twelve years in Vienna, esteemed for his character and talent, he transferred his position to Metastasio and returned to Venice in 1729. He lived there for two more years, among his friends, books and medals, laden with honours, and kept up active correspondence with foreign scholars. He composed sixty-three dramatic works in many different styles. Caldara set many of them to music. Among his operas, Gli Inganni Felice and Lucio Vero were particularly lauded.
6
Chiari, a comedic poet, originally from Brescia, settled in Venice and unsuccessfully tried his hand at novels and tragedies. Like Goldoni, for whom, at times, he was a lucky rival, he had adopted fourteen-syllable Martellian verse. The former inspired by the works of Terence, the latter endeavoured to stage the works of Plautus; both had their fanatic supporters. The sixty plays written by Chiari, in a style devoid of both conviction and elegance, at least did justice to the fecundity of his imagination.
7
Goldoni took on the position of Italian tutor once again, this time for Madame Clotilde, who was engaged to the Prince of Piedmont, and for Madame Elisabeth. He ended his career by writing three volumes of memoirs that were to serve as his life story and the history of his theatrical career. He died on January 8, 1793, saddened and impoverished by the Revolution.
8
Venice’s glass industry was very old. In 630, Saint Benedict called Venetian workers to England to decorate the windows of Yarmouth Monastery. Shops were set up on Murano Island and were closely monitored by the Council of Ten. During the eighteenth century, this art enjoyed new found prosperity, thanks to the patriotism of Briati, who had worked as a porter for three years in a Bohemian crystal shop so he could learn the secrets of fabrication. His perseverance was rewarded by success, as he obtained permission to rebuild his furnaces within the city limits of Venice. He died on January 17, 1772.
9
In his Memoirs, Part I, Chapter XII.
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