PASSERONI, Gian Carlo. – Priest and poet, born at Condamine di Lantosca (Nice) on 8 March 1713, died in Milan on 26 December 1803.
Friend of Parini, who in the ode *La tempesta* addresses him as Alcone, he wrote a mock-heroic poem, *Cicerone* (Milan 1755–74), in which the life of the Roman orator serves as a pretext for gentle satire against various aspects of contemporary society. The poem, which occupies a notable place in the playful literature of the 18th century, was admired by Baretti, Rousseau, and Sterne. Passeroni was also the author of a volume of satirico-moral verse and of seven volumes of Aesopian fables (ibid. 1779–88).
BIBL.: G. Baretti, *La frusta letteraria*, I, Bari 1932, pp. 140–50; G. Carducci, *L'Accademia de' Trasformati e G. Parini*, in *Opere*, ed. naz., XVI, Bologna 1937, p. 53 ff. Cf. also: A. Mannelli, *Il Cicerone di G. C. P. considerato sotto l'aspetto educativo*, Florence 1915; G. Natali, *Il Settecento*, II, Milan 1936, pp. 1040–47 (with bibliographical note at p. 1103); C. Previtera, *La poesia giocosa e l'umorismo*, II, Milan 1942, pp. 155–63.