ANTONIOLI, CARLO

ANTONIOLI, CARLO. — A letterato and sculptor, born at Correggio (Modena) on 2 Sept. 1728, died at Pisa on 1 Nov. 1800. While still very young he was sent to Pisa at the request of his teacher, Edoardo Corsini, professor at that university, and in 1752 he was appointed to teach logic. After the death of Fr. Corsini, while retaining the chair of philosophy, he became professor of Greek literature, to which was added the chair of Latin language. He held both these positions until his death. His Latin orations, still unpublished, were highly celebrated; they were delivered every year at the reopening of the Pisan Athenaeum and were marked by brilliance, nobility, and elegance. He also had an extensive knowledge of Greek, in which he rendered great service by publishing a most useful anthology and an excellent grammar, to which so many Hellenists owe so much. He also wrote learnedly on philosophy and antiquities and had to engage in scientific controversies in defence of his confrère Corsini. Praised by the greatest contemporary men of letters, “he united great learning with rare goodness; his modesty stood in the way of his glory,” as G. B. Niccolini pronounced of him.