Luca Antonio Pagnini (15 January 1737 – 21 March 1814) was an Italian writer and a scholar and translator of Greco-Roman literature.

Reverend
Luca Antonio Pagnini
Born(1737-01-15)January 15, 1737
Died21 March 1814(1814-03-21) (aged 77)
Burial placeSanti Jacopo e Filippo, Pisa
NationalityItalian
Other namesEritisco Pilenejo
Occupation(s)Catholic priest, translator, university teacher, hellenist, latinist
Parent(s)Francesco Pagnini and Maria Angiola Pagnini (née Grassi)
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic work
DisciplineGreek scholar, Classicist
InstitutionsUniversity of Pisa
Notable studentsLuigi Chiarini

Biography edit

Luca Antonio Pagnini was born in Pistoia to a poor family. His abilities and the good training he received from Cesare Franchini attracted attention to him, and the Carmelites invited him to join their chapter in Florence. On entering the Carmelite Order he changed his name to Giuseppe Maria. Later he was sent to Parma, where he taught philosophy in the college of his Order. The writer Frugoni took note of the young man and obtained for him an appointment as teacher in the University of Parma. He soon was teaching rhetoric and Greek language. He became noted as a prolific translator of classic poetry and writings. He also published arcadian poetry under the pseudonym of Eritisco Pilenejo. He was forced to leave Parma after the death of Duke Ferdinand, and move to Pisa, where he was named as professor of Greek, and afterwards of Latin literature. He became a corresponding member of the Accademia della Crusca.[1]

His translations are his chief claim to remembrance, especially his Horace (1814). Among Pagnini's translations is a version of the Greek bucolic poets: Poesie Bucoliche Italiane, Latine, e Greche, Parma, 1780.

References edit

  1. ^ Olivier-Poli, Gioacchino Maria (1825). Continuazione al Nuovo dizionario istorico degli uomini che si sono renduti piu celebri... (in Italian). Vol. VI. Naples: R. Marotta and Vanspandoch. pp. 348–350.

Bibliography edit

  • Hutton, James (1935). The Greek Anthology in Italy to the Year 1800. Cornell University Press. pp. 430–431.
  • Arcangeli, Giuseppe (1840). "Luca Antonio Pagnini". In Emilio Amedeo De Tipaldo (ed.). Biografia degli Italiani illustri nelle scienze, lettere ed arti del secolo XVIII, e de' contemporanei. Vol. 7. Venice: dalla tipografia di Alvisopoli. pp. 176–180.
  • "Pagnini, Luca Antonio". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 18 April 2023.