Background
Giovanni Crescimbeni was born at Macerata in 1663.
Giovanni Crescimbeni was born at Macerata in 1663.
Giovanni Mario Crescimbeni was educated by a French priest at Rome, Giovanni Crescimbeni entered the Jesuits' college of his native town, where he produced a tragedy on thestory of Darius, and versified the Pharsalia.
In 1679 he received the degree of doctor of laws, and in 1680 he removed again to Rome.
In 1690, in conjunction with fourteen others, Giovanni Crescimbeni founded the celebrated academy of the Arcadians, and began the contest against false taste and its adherents. The academy was most successful; branch societies were opened in all the principal cities of Italy; and the influence of Marini, opposed by the simplicity and elegance of such models as Costanzo, soon died away. Crescimbeni officiated as secretary to the Arcadians for thirty-eight years. In 1705 he was made canon of Santa Maria; in 1715 he obtained the chief curacy attached to the same church; and about two months before he died (1728) he was admitted a member of the order of Jesus.
Giovanni Crescimbeni's principal work is the Istoria della volgar poesia (Rome, 1698), an estimate of all the poets of Italy, past and contemporary, which may yet be consulted with advantage. The most important of his numerous other publications are the Commentary (5 vols. , Rome, 1702 - 1711), and La Bellezza della volgar poezia (Rome, 1700).
Giovanni Mario Crescimbeni was made canon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. In 1715 he obtained the chief curacy attached to the same church. And about two months before he died (1728) he was admitted a member of the order of Jesus.
