Signorelli, Pietro Napoli

Pietro Napoli Signorelli (September 28, 1731, Naples - April 1, 1815, ibid.) - Italian cultural historian, teacher, scientific writer, playwright.

He was born in a notary's family, at the insistence of his father received a legal education, after receiving a degree, he worked as a lawyer for a while; even during his studies he became interested in the ideas of the Enlightenment, in 1754 he published his first work, and at about the same time began to study the history of the theater. In 1765, when his father died, Signoreli moved to Spain, where he studied history, philology, Spanish literature and dramaturgy. He remained in Spain for eighteen years, then returned to Naples. In 1799, due to the opposition spirit, he was sent to exile by the Neapolitan king Ferdinand IV into exile, which lasted until 1806; he spent these years in Paris, from 1800 to 1804 he often lived in Milan. Then he was able to return to his native city, where he lived until the end of his life. In recent years, he held a number of positions: he was a professor of science at the Institute in Bologna, a member of the Academy of Arts in Livorno, head of the library in Brera and the life secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts of Naples.

Main works: “Satire” (1774), “Storia critica de'teatri antichi e moderni” (1777), “Vicende della coltura delle due Sicilie” (1784-1786, supplemented in 1791), “Opuscoli” (1792), “ Prolusioni alla catedra di poesia rappresentativa "(1801)," Elementi di critica diplomatica "(1805).