Vittorio Alfieri at The Borghese Gardens, Rome

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Count Vittorio Alfieri (1749-1803) was a highly acclaimed Italian dramatist and poet widely regarded as the founder of Italian tragedy. The success of his dramas is largely responsible for his high reputation, as they brought a much-needed boost to the stagnant field of Italian drama. Prior to Alfieri's time, the Italian language had been poorly suited for dramatic dialogue, lacking the harmony and energy that poets like Petrarch and Dante were able to achieve in their works. The tragedies of the 16th century were overly pedantic and lifeless, while those of the following era were characterized by excessive sentimentality and implausible action. The success of Maffei's Merope at the beginning of the 18th century was likely due more to its contrast with these earlier works than any inherent merit. The appearance of Alfieri's tragedies marked a significant literary event in Italy during the 18th century, offering a much-needed departure from the prevailing standards of tragic drama. However, it is challenging to form a definitive opinion about his work, as his style and approach underwent considerable changes between the three periods of publication. Alfieri's first four tragedies, Filippo, Polinice, Antigone, and Virginia, are marked by an excessive harshness of style, asperity of sentiment, and a total lack of poetical ornament. Despite this, his dramas are always written in the Grecian model, exuding a sense of freedom and independence reminiscent of an Athenian poet. His later works, Agide and Bruto, can be seen more as oratorical declamations and dialogues on liberty than traditional tragedies. While he does not adhere to the strict unity of time and place found in ancient dramas, Alfieri is meticulous about maintaining a unity of action and interest. He masterfully crafts his scenes around one central action and dominant passion, carefully excluding any extraneous elements or feelings. Regardless of their merits or flaws, Alfieri's contributions can be seen as the foundation of a new school in Italian drama. His country hailed him as its sole tragic poet, and his successors have regarded his bold, austere, and rapid style as the authentic model for tragic composition. (Credit: Wikipedia) This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can help.