Anthology

ANTHOLOGY. - Scientific and literary journal, founded in Florence by Gian Pietro Vieuxseux in Jan. 1821 and suppressed in 1833 by the Government of Tuscany. It arose as a collection of translations from foreign journals, but before long original writings also appeared in it, aimed above all (as Vieuxseux himself declared) at making Italy known to itself, at defending its glories, and at encouraging its efforts. For many years the A. was an arena of lively polemics. The subjects treated were varied (literature, history, philosophy, pedagogy, political economy, social legislation) and its contributors were numerous and illustrious: from Lambruschini to Colletta, from Romagnosi to Leopardi. Noteworthy, above all, was a gracious courtesy, a sense of moderation and balance that was never lacking, even in the most heated discussions. But following two writings (one of them by Tommaso) published anonymously in the last issue of 1832 and which seemed inspired by ideas that were too liberal, the ambassadors of Austria and Russia presented a protest to the Grand Ducal Government of Tuscany, which, by decree of 25 March 1833, ordered the cessation of the periodical. It was reborn in 1866 in Florence under the title Nuova Antologia (v.).

Riccardo De Santis