MANTEGAZZA, PAOLO. – Anthropologist, jurist, writer, b. Monza 31 Oct. 1831, d. S. Terenzio (Liguria) 26 Aug. 1910. After graduating in medicine at Pavia, he travelled through Europe and Latin America to study customs and races. Having obtained a chair at the University of Pavia, he founded the first laboratory of general pathology there, and later, after moving to Florence, the first museum of anthropology.
Through popular writings, almanacs and journals he popularised his theories. A convinced advocate of Darwinism, he applied it in his research and defended it in his writings; yet certain of his scientific lectures lapsed into Epicurean sensualism. He enjoyed a measure of success and was wrongly thought to have scored a victory for secularism over clerical prejudice; in the end, however, his work did damage to the rigour of science. He championed neo-Malthusianism and free love, accepted divorce, polygamy and even polyandry.
Deputy from 1865 to 1876, then senator, he left autobiographical material in Ricordi politici di un fantaccino di Montecitorio (1866). He wrote two novels: Un giorno a Madera and Il Dio ignoto (1876). Among his other works expressly placed on the Index are: Elementi d’igiene, decree 22 Mar. 1869; Gli amori degli uomini, decree 25 June 1886; Figli di Galeazzo dell’amore, decree 25 June 1886; Figli di Galeazzo dell’amore, decree 14 July 1892; Figli di Galeazzo dell’amore, decree 14 July 1892; Figli di Galeazzo dell’amore; L’arte di prender marito, to follow L’arte di prender moglie, decree 8 June 1894.
MANTEGNA, ANDREA – Fresco with the Martyrdom of St Christopher (photo Anderson) – Padua, church of the Eremitani.