GIRALDI, GIOVAMBATTISTA CINZIO. – Scholar, born in Ferrara in 1504, died there in 1573. His work is influenced by the Catholic Reformation.
Pre-romantic elements have been noted in his tragedies, among which *Orbecche* is notable; it was performed in 1541. In addition to a pastoral drama (*Egle*) and several eclogues, including the poem *Ercole* (Modena 1557), left unfinished, which celebrates the exploits of Ercole II d'Este. His major work is the *Ecatommiti* (Mondovì 1565), tales inspired by Boccaccio (113 stories, divided into ten decades and an introduction) narrated by a group of friends traveling from Civitavecchia to Marseille. Shakespeare drew the plot of *Othello* from the 7th tale of the 3rd decade.
BIBL.: G. Perale, *Sul valore morale degli «Ecatommiti» di G. B. G.*, Prato 1907; R. Piccioni, *Vita di G. B. G.*, in *Atti e memorie delle deputazioni ferraresi di storia patria*, 18 (1908), pp. 113-231; G. Guerrieri-Croccetti, *G. B. G. e il pensiero critico del sec. XVI*, Milano 1932; A. Chiarelli, *La fortuna del Boccaccio*, in *Questioni e correnti di storia letteraria*, edited by A. Momigliano, ibid. 1940, p. 327 ff.