Bidspirit auction | [LITERATURE] - “ITALY, A SORROWFUL

[LITERATURE] - “ITALY, A SORROWFUL MUSE: FOSCOLO BETWEEN TRAGEDIES AND HOPES” - FOSCOLO Ugo - Interesting autograph letter signed, dated “21 Ottobre 1813” by the Italian writer and poet. Foscolo writes to the poet Silvio Pellico (1789 - 1854), mentioning his poem “Le Grazie” (1814) and talk extensively of his tragedy “La Ricciarda” (1813). Napoleon's disastrous campaign in Russia had also upset the political balance in Italy, which is why the Poet, addressing Pellico, whom he calls ”figliuolo e fratello”, begins by saying: “…le cose d’Italia mi turbano, ne le Grazie possono serenare l’anima mestamente, raccolta nel timore dell’avvenire…”. He then moves on to talk about “La Ricciarda” and about the first performance, he makes some interesting points. Having said that, if he had time, he would remake the drama from the middle of the third act until the end, he adds: “…Da ragguagli che me ne vengono di scartar e di versar m’accorgo che dove appunto sta il pregio della tragedia per l’animo de’ Lettori, nasce il difetto per l’impazientissimo spettatore (…) vedro' d’avventurare la tragedia rigatta; e dall’esperimento mi disporro' di lasciarla stampare piu' in una che nell’altra maniera (…) se le tragedie dell’Alfieri non fossero lette e rilette chi mai le interebbe alla recita?…”. The poet then mentions the lengths he will have to go to for a reprint of his work because of French censorship: “…Ma bisogna, a stampando, il beneplacito di Parigi, e quindi due mesi…”. Addressing Pellico, who had certainly spoken to him enthusiastically about it, he criticized some political ideas that had arisen as an alternative to the hopes beyond the Alps: “…Torno a dirti ch’io non intendo ne lodo (…) la filosofia de Cosmpoliti, e questa benedetta Italia e una Dulcineea per cui mi faro' fare ridicolo; ma sia cosi: meglio e ferir per lei che giori d’altrui…”. In closing the letter, the poet assures his friend that he is well in health: “…Di salute sto bene che non mai tanto; e Dio in questi frangenti m’ajuta…” and asks for news of his brother Julius (who will die by suicide): “…Dammi novelle di mio fratello, se pur lo vedi; informati se non altro di Lui dagli ufficiali o al Ministero della Guerra. e pur gran tempo ch’ei tace…”. The poem “Le Grazie” was begun at Bellosguardo in the spring of 1813 and their composition continued in 1814 during the poet's stay in Milan. The tragedy “La Ricciarda, ” completed by Foscolo in June 1813, was staged in Bologna on September 17 of the same year. The outcome was not good, partly due to two contingent reasons: the author's refusal to appear on stage, although he was present, which caused murmurs from the end of Act 2 onward, and an accidental start of fire on the stage that gravely affected the continuation of the drama. 2 pp. In-8.