TOSATTI, Maria Barbara. - Poetess, born 4 Nov. 1891 at S. Felice sul Panaro (Modena), died in Rome on 17 Apr. 1934.
A woman of exquisite intelligence, solid classical culture, and profound spirituality. Her brother Quinto published a volume of her works entitled *Canti e preghiere* (Brescia 1939), which contains lyrics, reflections, and letters by M. B. T. This was a sudden leap to fame.
There was unanimous recognition of her high poetic vein, which, though employing 19th-century methods, won the admiration of all for the lyrical sincerity of its inspiration, the refined beauty of its expression—remotely suggesting the names of Foscolo and Leopardi—and for the inner spiritual richness from which it sprang.
BIBL.: P. P. Trompeo, *Anima e poesia di M. B. T.*, Rome 1937; P. Pancrazzi, *Scrittori italiani del Novecento*, Bari 1934, pp. 285 ff.; D. Mondrone, *Dal canzoniere e diario di M. B. T.*, in *Scrittori al traguardo*, I, 3rd ed., Rome 1947, pp. 225-45; V. Bassoli, *La poesia di M. B. T.*, Milan-Rome 1950.