(Encyclopedia) Gama, Vasco daGama, Vasco davăˈskō də găˈmə, Port. väshˈkō dä gäˈmə [key], c.1469–1524, Portuguese navigator, the first European to journey by sea to India. His epochal voyage (1497–99…
(Encyclopedia) Francesca da RiminiFrancesca da Riminifränchĕsˈkä dä rēˈmēnē [key], fl. 13th cent., Italian beauty, daughter of Guido da Polenta of Ravenna. She was married by proxy to the hunchbacked…
(Encyclopedia) Antonello da MessinaAntonello da Messinaäntōnĕlˈlō dä mās–sēˈnä [key], c.1430–79, Sicilian painter, b. Messina. Antonello appears to have had early contact with Flemish art. In his…
(Encyclopedia) Jacobus da VaragineJacobus da Varaginejəkōˈbəs dä värăjˈĭnē [key], c.1230–1298, Italian hagiographer, b. Varazze (then Voraggio), near Savona; also known as Jacobus de Voragine. He…
(Encyclopedia) Jacopone da TodiJacopone da Todiyäkōpôˈnā dä tôˈdē [key], 1230?–1306, Italian religious poet, whose name was originally Jacopo Benedetti. After the sudden death of his wife, he…
(Encyclopedia) Desiderio da SettignanoDesiderio da Settignanodāzēdĕˈrēō dä sĕtˌtēnyäˈnō [key], c.1429–64, Florentine sculptor, a follower of Donatello. His exquisitely delicate marble carving is best…
(Encyclopedia) Da Ponte, LorenzoDa Ponte, Lorenzolōrĕntˈsō dä pônˈtā [key], 1749–1838, Italian librettist and teacher, b. Ceneda as Emmanuele Conegliano. Born Jewish, he converted to Catholicism at…