Alfieri, Vittorio, count (1749-1803)

Alfieri, Vittorio, count

PLAYWRIGHT, POET (ITALY)

BORN 17 Jan 1749, Asti, Piemonte - DIED 8 Oct 1803, Firenze, Toscana
GRAVE LOCATION Firenze, Toscana: Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Croce

Vittorio Alfieri's father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, who remarried. When he was thirteen years old he started studying law, but he was more interested in literature. After his uncle died he was free to use the money he inherited from hius father as well as from his uncle.

In 1766 he went abroad with a tutor and he visited Paris and the Netherland, where his love for a married woman went unanswered. Back home he studied literature and during a trip to London he had an affair with Lady Penelope Ligonier that ended in a scandal and ruined Lady Penelope. He left England for Spain and Portugal, where Abbe Caluso became a close friend for life. In 1772 he was back in Turin, where he had an affair with Marchesa Turinetti di Prie. He left a piece of drama at her house that was sent back to him after their affair ended. In was staged in1775 as "Cleopatra" in Turin.

The rest of his life he dedicated to the theatre. In 1776 he met Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern, the wife of Charles Edward Stuart (known as Bonnie Prince Charie") in Florence. When she separated from her husband he followed her to Rome, but he left Rome in 1783 after their affair was discovered. He wrote several tragedies before he learned that Louise had left for Colmar. He joined her and they stayed together until his death. He fled Paris for the French Revolution and settled with Louise in Florence, where he bought Palazzo Gianfigliazzi.

After his death in 1803 he was buried in the Santa Croce in Florence and Louise hired Canova to create a monument for him. This was completed after six years. Louise died in 1824 and was buried in the Santa Croce as well.

Related persons
• met Gros, Antoine-Jean
• employed as secretary Rossetti, Gabriele Pasquale Giuseppe

Images

The tomb of Victorio Alfieri at the Santa Croce, Florence.
Picture by Androom (07 Feb 2011)