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Lorenzo Monaco

(Encyclopedia)Lorenzo Monaco mōˈnäkō [key], c.1370–1425?, Italian painter, one of the leading artists in Florence at the beginning of the 15th cent. His real name was Piero di Giovanni. Born in Siena, he came...

Gifford, William

(Encyclopedia)Gifford, William, 1756–1826, English journalist and critic. He was editor (1797–98) of the Anti-Jacobin and first editor (1809–24) of the archconservative Quarterly Review. Although perceptive, ...

Gioia, Melchiorre

(Encyclopedia)Gioia or Gioja, Melchiorre both: mālkyôrˈrā jōˈyä [key], 1767–1829, Italian economist and political theorist. An early advocate of the unification of Italy, he was several times imprisoned, o...

La Marmora

(Encyclopedia)La Marmora lä märˈmōrä [key], distinguished Italian noble family. Its best-known member was Alfonso Ferrero, marchese della Marmora, 1804–78, general and political leader. He fought for Sardini...

Ardigò, Roberto

(Encyclopedia)Ardigò, Roberto rōbĕrˈtō ärdēgôˈ [key], 1828–1920, Italian positivist philosopher. His early life was spent in the priesthood, from which he withdrew in dissatisfaction at the age of 43. La...

Briosco, Andrea

(Encyclopedia)Briosco, Andrea ändrĕˈä brēôsˈkō [key], 1470?–1532, Italian architect and sculptor, known also as Andrea Riccio [curly-headed], b. Padua. As an architect, he created models for the church of...

Julius II

(Encyclopedia)Julius II, 1443–1513, pope (1503–13), an Italian named Giuliano della Rovere, b. Savona; successor of Pius III. His uncle Sixtus IV gave him many offices and created him cardinal. Innocent VIII, s...

Sixtus IV

(Encyclopedia)Sixtus IV sĭkˈstəs [key], 1414–84, pope (1471–84), an Italian named Francesco della Rovere (b. near Savona); successor of Paul II. He was made general of his order, the Franciscans, in 1464 and...

Medici, Italian family

(Encyclopedia)Medici mĕˈdĭchē, Ital. māˈdēchē [key], Italian family that directed the destinies of Florence from the 15th cent. until 1737. Of obscure origin, they rose to immense wealth as merchants and ba...

De Sica, Vittorio

(Encyclopedia)De Sica, Vittorio vēt-tôrˈyō də sēˈkə [key], 1901–74, Italian film director and actor. His Shoeshine (1946), The Bicycle Thief (1948), and Umberto D. (1952) are classics of postwar Italian n...