CRESCIMBENI, GIOVANNI MARIO Italian critic and poet, was born at Macerata on Oct. 9, 1663. In 169o, in conjunction with 14 others, he founded in Rome the academy of the Arcadians to combat the affectations of the school of Marini. Crescimbeni was secretary to the Arcadians for 38 years. He died on March 8, 1728, shortly after his admission as a member of the order of Jesus. His principal work is the Istoria della .volgar poesia (1698), an estimate of all the poets of Italy, past and contemporary. The most important of his numerous other publications are the Commentarij (5 vols., 1702–II), and La Bellezza della volgar poesia (1700) .