Antonio Vallisnieri

Antonio Vallisnieri, an Italian naturalist, born at Tresilico, Modena, May 3,1661, died in Padua, Jan. 18, 1730. He studied medicine at Bologna, and about 1688 began practice in Reggio. In 1700 he became professor at Padua, where he excited opposition by his attempted reforms in medicine. He was indefatigable in his efforts to advance the knowledge of natural history, and in his researches on generation, and opposed the doctrine of spontaneous generation. His complete works were published at Venice in 1733 (3 vols. fol.).

Apostolo Zeno

Apostolo Zeno, an Italian poet, born in Venice, Dec. 11, 1668, died there, Nov. 11, 1750. He wrote many successful dramas and furnished librettos for several operas; founded in 1710 the Giornale de' letterati d'Italia, which still exists; went to Vienna in 1715 on the invitation of Charles VI., and was appointed court poet and historiographer. He retired in 1729, recommending Metastasio as his successor, and returned to Venice on a pension. His dramatic works were published collectively in 1744 (10 vols., Venice) and in 1795 (12 vols., Turin). He also wrote the life of Davila and other biographies; Istorici delle cose veneziane (10 vols., Venice, 1718-'22); Dissertazioni istorico-critiche e letterarie agli istorici italiani (2 vols., Venice 1752-3); and Epistole (3 vols., 1752; 2d ed., enlarged, 6 vols., 1785).

Appiano Buonafede

Appiano Buonafede, an Italian philosopher, born at Comacchio, near Ferrara, Jan. 4, 1716, died in Rome in December, 1793. He studied theology in Naples, and joined the order of Celestines, of which he became general in 1777. He ended his life in Rome as abbot of the monastery of S. Eusebio. As a member of the academy of the Arcadi he assumed the name of Agatopisto Cromaziano, under which he published many of his works. The principal of them, Dell' istoria e dell' indole di ogni filo-sofia (7 vols., Lucca, 1766-'72), and Delia re-staurazione della filosofia ne' secoli XVI-XVIII. (3 vols., Venice, 1789; German translation with additions by Heidenreich, 2 vols., Leipsic, 1791), treat of the history of ancient and modern philosophy.

Arabella Goddard

Arabella Goddard, an English pianist, born at St. Servan, near St. Halo, Brittany, in January, 1836. She very early manifested great musical talent, and was instructed on the piano by Kalkbrenner in Paris, and, after the removal of her parents to London in 1848, by Mrs. Anderson, pianist to the queen, and Thalberg. Her first public appearance was at a concert in her father's residence, March 30, 1850; and in October she played at the grand national concerts, becoming known as a brilliant performer of the music of Thalberg and the modern romantic school. Subsequently she studied harmony with Macfarren, and has played more classical music. In 1854-'6 she gave concerts in the principal cities of France, Germany, and Italy. In 1860 she was married to Mr. Davison, a musical critic, but still retains professionally her maiden name. In 1872 she visited the United States and played at the great musical festival in Boston.