Environment on the literature: Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio(1313-1375), author of Decameron has took from the common people and other social classes in the Florence of 14^th century; in short the Decameron is a portrait of Florentine society in 14^th century; Boccaccio has took true personages, that after he has  tied to framework, but he has took the human typology or personages really existed ; the first that we can consider is the novella of Calandrino, who was he? He was a modest painter whose the name  Giovannozzo of Pierino that in this novella with others two painters, Bruno di Giovanni and Bonamico Cristofani, called Buffalmacco, truly existed, the first clue that shows the inspiration from the reality of Boccaccio, but he has took also the wit of Florence, both the liking and the joke that in Florence was present, but the wit  of then is in the following words: “Was then in Florence a young very charming and fro everything he was very cunning, called Maso del Saggio, that heard  about ingenuity of Calandrino, he proposed of amuse oneself trough some joke; this wit is typical of Florence and the cue during the meeting and everywhere is typical, hence Boccaccio have to invent very short for these novellas; also because some datum we can read on the Vasari, in the his book The life of painters, sculptors and architects where Vasari about Calandrino says: “Buonamico di Cristofano, called Buffalmacco, Florentine painter, that was pupil of Andrea Tafi and he was also burlesque, celebrated from mister Giovanni Boccaccio…”; it can be believed from the readers as the reality, but Vasari remembered one alone painting work, because in the life of Buffalmacco isn’t others, and he has said to beginning of life of Buffalmacco that his painting are in much town of Tuscany, but he told alone one painting cycle, that was deleted already during the 16^th century; hence this painter has been fitted on the guilt of doctors in year 1320, but other there isn’t, why? Because this painter lived certainly in Florence, but he not has been famous, but Boccaccio has took this character that about him, he has known in Florence; furthermore a Bruno of Jolin is mentioned in a contract in year 1301, and the other information hat Vasari has took as Boccaccio from the common knowledge but that are, regard to art, very untrustworthy ; anyway  the way that Boccaccio has followed was followed also from Vasari; hence the environment of Florentine city was an archive. A literary critic Mario Baratto has said about the Decameron: “…the historic nature of Decameron, regard to social condition of the Florentine people in the century 1300…”, he has described the people and his wit during the 14^th century.

Alessandro Lusana           

 

 The pagan wit in the Christian fields

A historical man, Carlo Ginzburg(1939-2026) has found much documents around a use very anomalous in a Italian region, Veneto, precisely around the city of Cividale, where in some far villages were uses very strange for the Christian religion, he has took the testimonies of some member of these company, called the Benandanti, this is the well walking, that were considered witchcrafts, and a father for the to save his son, because he thought has the possessed from the evil, he has searched Paul Gasparutto, because he has the fame that he follows these witchcraft, and he has fame of to be a Well walking; but the note  of principal oddness is that these rites, also violent, occurred during the night, beyond the usual tell about the dragon wings necessary to come to meeting. Some rite is described from a witness, regard a question given to a citizen: “Are you of those witchcraft?, And he said that he was a wellwalking, and every Thursday he came to a wood and there they danced, eat and drink, and when go back the wickedwalk they come to basin  drink and urine in the barrel and the wine is poured…and similar things that I don’t believe”; we tie it to framework that is agriculture, hence the protagonist are rural that confesses that they are wellwalking; inasmuch the heresy was very limited and short. Important difference from these meeting and the witchcraft meeting is the absence, as the Ginzburg has stressed, of evil, that isn’t neither mentioned, but the description of these meeting Ginzburg described: “The dark rite, witchcraft men and women that fight among them with sorgum plants and Wellwalking have fennel plant, and the antiquity or origin of this rite is attested from the valor of fennel, why? Simple because in ancient time the fennel was considered a holy plant, drugs and fortifying, and after the Marathon battle, in year 490 b.Ch., the Greek used this plant as symbol of victory; in the Christin context the beneficent effects of this plant could guarantee and rich harvest. Ginzburg describes the Wellwalking: “The Wellwalking said that they are contrapposto to witchcraft both men and woman, that they cured the victims of wicked actions of these, and they say also that they meet them in mysterious night meeting, but they can’t tell it because they are going to beat, they ride cats, hares and other animals”; it is alone a fantasy of a member of these Wellwalking, that evidently thought to be save because he said that he contrasts the witchcraft, but the condemn, if it has been, and I don’t think, because the inquisitors were culture men and intelligent, would be for their Pagan meaning; because the fight between Wellwalking and Wickedwolking, was the heritage that in ancient people was for defense of owner fields, hence owner harvest, and the meeting in the wood and the dance, drink and eat, was the celebration after a victory, that was consequently; thence these rites are is heritage from ancient customs, that then were vital, as the defense of land, but during the 16^th century was suspect, although alone partially, because I think that the inquisitor have laughed for these meeting.

Alessandro Lusana               

 

 

 Portrait of a weak: Casanova

We have herd at last one time the name of James Casanova(1725-1798) more know a lovers than other, but he has been also a writer, that written also The my life; in the first page is underlining of his catholic faithful, it is the exit of a fair of the lovers that has had a son in Venice, Lorenz,  but that has betrayed his wife alone trough the wit, because in his life never we can read about  betrayal, anyway he says: “The desperation kills; the prayer dissolves it; and after the man retake the trust and he works. The inquiry about the way that supreme being uses for to remove the imminent disgrace that has asked his aid, it is up the human intellect…”it and other lines are alone a exaltation  of God; the age advanced,  and it is fair of a old, because he written this autobiography in age of 65 old age, and the average  life during the 18^th century was among 60 and 70 years old; hence this faithful of Casanova was alone the fair; and the proof of this think is in this step: “Although the man is free he doesn’t think that he can make everything. When he is convinced to make  from a passion he becomes a slave”; it is a reproach that he given to herself  because he has loved alone trough the sentiment much women, because during the 18^th century the custom aren’t so free as today. Other step is other reproach to herself because he  writers: “The sage man is who that has the interior strong of to hold his actions until the calm…”; it is other quality that he certainly hasn’t had , as we can understand it ?Simple because he describes this type of being, and usually who speaks about some human type has envy or admiration, this case is admiration, hence Casanova shows  his weakness typical of his century, and this weakness  is reaffirmed  in these words: “…the unique method that I have used is to leave me bring where the wind has brought me”; it is the confession of a weak that followed everything without conviction, as was the his century, and the confession, now autobiographical is now: “… I has been victim of my senses…”; it likes  me always degenerate and I have lived continuously  in the error…”; it is the pure confession of a old that  very weak confesses his weakness trough these words. Regard the women the confession is very clear: “Regard the women, it has treated of reciprocal deception to not consider…”; it is a portrait of a weak man certainly, but it is also a portrait of a century that lived on the superficiality, and the French Revolution has proofed it; a century of image and safeguard of his image, that after, for the Revolution, has lost totally, because the life was other; Casanova has deceived oneself that this customs were again present, but the confessions that he has said, and that we have read are sign that he has lost every hope that his century was again that he has lived; he finally has given end to a century, of better his century. Other clue of weakness of Casanova is the following: “On the my choose of give  my life to the public that I don’t know? No. I know that I am making a folly…”; it is the evident sign that Casanova was again tied to the customs that by now were alone a memory, the morality was changed, and the century is changing; but this read  is interesting, although becomes very boring, because it given a portrait of Casanova but above all of his 18^th century.

Alessandro Lusana   

 Medieval heritage: Ulisse Aldovrandi

Ulisse Aldovrandi(1522-1605) certainly is unknown both in Italy and to abroad, he has been a doctor and naturalist man, hence a scientist; we can consider him so, but not certainly trough the rationality  that we can ascertain to scientist men and women, and this judge has determined from his book Monstrorum historya, the history of monsters; a collection of medieval fantasies, that today are laughable  but then, year 1642, were worth trust from the readers; anyway this book is a catalog of engravers of Cristoforo Coriolano(1540-?) that have followed the description of Aldovrandi, that in this book has used the Medieval sources, and it is certified from the fantasy  that he used from the authors, in this book he has also took from the ancient authors, naturally others fantasies, as Plinius(a.Ch.20-73) and his Naturalis historya, anyway Plinius tells around the black men that have the inferior lip until the thorax and these peoples are high and very black; we must consider that then the blacks were very anomalous; anyway other authors is van Wesel(1514-1564) a medical man that, in conformity to that custom has described, as Aldovrandi mentioned it,  some anatomic particular as the huge ears that from the head until the legs, some resident in Ethiopia, that have four eyes; the fantasy of Aldovrandi and others authors before to him is very conspicuous , because other step says the in island of Taprobana, the name of ancient for the actual Sri Lanka these are men that have alone eyes in head; and some other Roman author as Filvius Torquatus consul, that tells that he has seen the men that have  one eyes ; but Aoldovrandi didn’t exclude the neck, because the Tartarian people has very long neck, but also the tail is considered, because saint peter has seen men with long tails; but among much fantasies something of true can occur; this is the men that have the hirsutism, this the downy on the face, that in engravers of Coriolano are very exaggerated , that Aldovrandi calls: “Homines silvestres”, this the wild men; but Aldovrandi isn’t ce4rtainly impolite, because he mentioned  a name of woman that has hirsutism in his city this is Bologna, Italy, he says: “In this city the downy  in Bologna and it is  a race, and he has married very noble Sorani marquise…”, naturally in this step is the formal respect of nobility of man, and he didn’t leave also the hirsutism of teen , because a description  of teen  is motive for curiosity. Finally this book is alone a catalog of strange descriptions that have took from Medieval and ancient sources, that Aldovrandi has considered very reliable, naturally we must consider that the science  was developed from some side instead others was again merely medieval.

Alessandro Lusana     

 Pictorial letters: van Gogh

The portrait the human being that we can’t know now, as Vincent van Gogh(1853-1907) a painter very famous, that has found his  vocation for the painting after together works, as the merchant, preacher and other, but we can know him trough the letters, we can know his wit, that was very complex; the first of these clues is a letter to his brother, Theo, that has endowed Vincent in his country, Dutch and board, in France, when he in year 1880 by now lover of painting, he discovered the sun in years 1886; anyway in this letter he says: “Dear Theo, you are almost extraneous…”it is a sign of psychotic withdrawal ; and this opinion is held from a step of this letter: “For this I am convinced that is very better and more logic to take is to go away as I not exist”; This detachment is motive  for confirm my opinion, because also in a room is possible paint and with other persons, and the following of this letter we can understand the will, is a need of family that shows also an weakness  of character, very important, and this confession is very meaningful: “I am an instinctive  man that makes things more or less rational, and after I repent”;  it is the instinct that he has described summery after.. But Vincent expressed also the will of new because he confesses that he wanted read, almost vital  need, and for the painting: “When I was in other environment  of artistic things, you know that I have took for that environment  a passion, that became enthusiasm...”; the necessity of novelty is clear in this step: “But what is your sake? You would say; it is clear very slow and certainly, as a sketch and the sketch become a painting, gradually, we work intensely, gradually, the first idea is in depth…”; it is the need of novelty , because during the creative process, the new evolution comes always. But some from same letter  emerges also a capacity of Vincent of psychological analysis: “Now one motive for I am an inadequate for motive that  I am during years inadequate, it is simply because I have different ideas of those of lords that give the labor to the guys that think has them. It isn’t simply of cloth…”; the capacity of Vincent of analyze herself  and also other ids evident. The Dutch wit of merchant is in this step: “After is other type of idler, idler compelled, that is consumed  from deeply from a great desire of action and that makes not something, because can’t make it…as a bird in the cage that must be there, other birds can say about him that he is idler, but he would go out”. This letter is a document of personal wit that confesses also the very unknown, and certainly trough the painting we can’t know.

Alessandro Lusana    

 

 Ancient name but the new history: Louis 18^th

The reign of Louis 18^th, king of France(1755-1824) is the continuation of return to order of Napoleon, except the return to Napoleon on the France , in year 1815, a short time  called of hundred days; anyway excluded this short Napoleonic presence, Louis 18^th has continued the Napoleonic policy, of reign of Napoleon, not declared but effective ; it is a lesson of history that Louis 18^th has understood  , because a read  to the constitution  of Louis 18^th is very explicative of this concept; he has balanced the regal power to the Napoleonic, or revolutionary rights: in fact the new constitution, regard to privileges “…are deleted regard to social class”; it is  the first clue of the change of policy, because  the Revolution burst for these class privileges, hence Louis 18^th has learned that  it is motive for  the radical and revolutionary change; inasmuch the first cause must be abolished; the freedom of cults, by now the Revolution has past, hence the Napoleonic freedom must remain, although Napoleon has had the strong control on the bishops, but the catholic cult was recognized of major religion in France, that in the constitution of 1814 became the religion of French State; but the freedom of other cults were tolerated; the change of Napoleon; the change from Napoleon to Louis 18^th, regard the policy were very short; in fact the religious policy was took from the Napoleonic code, in the constitution of Louis 18^th we can find the same concept expressed from the code, above all the national goods, that the State can expropriate but alone for the public use; the same article that the Napoleonic code has used; and regard to expropriation of Revolution, that in 2th November 1789, the national assembly had declared that the goods of the Church are expropriated because the public balance was very serious; hence the same concept that both Napoleon  and Louis 18^th have expressed, the good can be expropriated  for the national motive and in conformity of Napoleon has inserted  in his code and after the fixed to Pious 7^th  pope. It is  a historical lesson that Louis 18^th  has learned very good, because he has  also kept the National assembly , but limited fro the election, from the richness; in short he has took from ancient regime and he has used the new wit of Napoleon, and naturally of Revolution, that he has limited, as Napoleon, for its extremism. Thence we can think Louis 18^th as the more monarchic of Napoleonic. Explicative are some words of Louis 18^th : “…neither the new, nor ancient of laws that is going to be merit and the their true useful. When I have reduce everything to public useful, and I haven’t spook about the justice to everybody, and it is alone is the true public good…”; it is certainly aren’t alone beautiful words, but a concept, that during the reign of his brother, this is Louis 16^th aren’t, because the unique interest were of aristocracy and clergy, hereby the time and moral were changed, the history has been a irreplaceable master. And also the following words are meaningful: “…the freedom, this words whose very much has abused everybody is enclosed, and for its exception, it isn’t less important for the king than for the citizen”. Certainly the Revolution has learned very much.

. Alessandro Lusana

 Schematize is the potential act

If we think something , truly we make a scheme, this is  the synthetic form and image that in reality is very different , because we after enrich of particulars that aid us  to make clear the scheme, that before is very poor, but that is necessary to stop the idea and image; hence  our procedure to beginning is alone a scheme, for example an architect he begins trough the elementary forms, that after he enrich with particulars that  in primary scheme aren’t; the same intellective process is to the writer, that find an idea in reality or in his read  and after he enriches  trough the particulars, but by beginning it is alone a scheme, a synthetic form that has potentially everything necessary; this scheme not hold the universal , this is the absolute idea made, but alone the particular, this is the reality that is alone the beginning of other particular, a hinted a reality that is alone  the synthetic  composition of more complex reality, that trough  progress become idea ended, but now it is in potential, in conformity of opinion of Aristotle, it is alone the τέλος, this is ended is successive, although the particular means the universal, but in potential, and can’t be  exist an universal already ready, because it would means that the scheme isn’t, but it is present always in concept, in brain and after it becomes the finished act, but alone potentially because the ended act, this the τέλος is future, but it is alone potentially, the scheme is potential  universal as above, and universal that, I repeat, isn’t metaphysical but alone real, although partial real because the scheme is alone a hint, that is graphic  or verbal but alone  hinted, hence it is  alone a summary image of all, that after becomes act. Same dynamic of allegory, that is always a potential act, but again summary, because the meaning is hide and we must find it; inasmuch the allegory alone partial because it gives to us the image but it not explains why this image, for example the allegory of Dante Alighieri(1265-1321), that entered  to a dark wood, in Divine Comedy, it is an allegory, that after Giovanni Boccaccio(1313-1375) has explained as the sin, but without Boccaccio we, may, interpreter this wood a natural production; whereby the Boccaccio is the act of potential, this is the end of meaning. Same dynamic  of symbol, from ancient Greek σϋμβάλλω. Set together; the potential valor of symbol is similar to allegory, because it is a valor  certainly real but hints to other, thence is partial, because the particular, this is real can, differently from the allegory, referrers to material earth or metaphysical , for example: a cross is symbol of a religion, this is the Christianism, hence it refers to a God that is universal, the material cross is alone half of  meaning, but the cross is alone material, although it refers to a metaphysical concept.

Alessandro Lusana