ZANOIA, GIUSEPPE. - Priest, architect, poet, b. at Genova on 11 Jan. 1752, d. at Omegna (Novara) on 18 Oct. 1817.
Having completed his ecclesiastical studies, he devoted himself to architecture, designing altars and chapels for the churches of Omegna, Catagno, the Borromeo residence on Isola Bella, and S. Ambrogio in Milano; he was at the centre of Milanese artistic life as secretary of the Accademia di Brera (Discorsi, Milano 1811) and architect of the Duomo. His eloquence had a certain effectiveness: he preached in the presence of the archduke and the court in 1793, 1794, and 1800, and delivered in Milano the funeral oration on the death of the Empress Maria Teresa.
As a poet (Sermoni, 2nd ed., Milano 1823), he wrote four satires in the Horatian manner, stylistically so Parinian that the sermon Sulle pie disposizioni testamentarie was published by Reina among the works of Parini. In his comedies (Il ravvedimento, I matrimoni ragionevoli, La capricciosa pentita, Rosalinda), following Goldonian models, he pursued moralistic aims.