BOCCACCIO, biik-kli'cbt.), GIOVANNI (1313 75), The third great figure in Italian litera ture, who. lacking the inspiration of Dante and the perfect form of Petrarch, is remembered in the history of culture as the creator of a classic Italian prose, and, through the Deeamcron, as the father of the modern novel. In spite of re cent critical studies, many details of his life are still obscure. It seems, however, generally con ceded that he was the natural son of a Floren tine merchant, Boccaccio di Chellino, and that he was horn about 1313, in Paris, where his father was temporarily residing. Of his French mother little is known beyond the bare name, Giannina, which still survives in that of her son. His early boyhood was passed in Florence. but at fifteen he was already living in Naples. placed there, some say, with a mercantile firm by his father, who meant to make a merchant of him, like himself. But the gay life and natural beauty of the city only strengthened the lad's distaste for commerce, which he finally abandoned for the study of canon law at the Neapolitan University; hut this proved scarcely more con genial. Meanwhile he was unconsciously laying the foundations of that knowledge of life and human nature which was to inspire his future work. Naples, under King Robert, had already become a centre of culture and learning, and Boccaccio, who seems to have had abundant pecuniary means at this time, soon formed valu able friendships with Niccolt, Acciajuoli, who was later Grand Seneschal of the kingdom; with Paolo Perugino. the King's librarian, who taught him astronomy, and with many others. Many women also influenced his life in these early, im pressionable years. Calla, Pampinea. Abrocomia, are some of the names which found a lasting record in his writings. But his one serious pas sion was that inspired by Maria, (laughter of King Robert and wife of a gentleman of the Court circle, but celebrated by Boccaccio under the name of 'Fianunetta.' Unlike the loves of Dante and Petrarch, this passion was not. des tined to be an abiding influence in Boccaccio's life. Fiammetta quickly proved to be of a far less obdurate nature than Beatrice or Laura, and seems as quickly to have wearied of him and to have transferred her favors elsewhere. Yet she certainly influenced his literary career. Ills earliest work, the Filocopo, was written for her amusement; Ameto and Piammetta both celebrate her charms; while some critics find much significance in the fact that the close of his activity as an imaginative writer coincides with the supposed date of her death. In 1340
he was recalled to Florence by his father, after which the scanty records give fugitive glimpses of him, first in one place and then another. In 134(1 he is in Ravenna ; in 1343 in Forli; then possibly back again in Naples; but at all events not in Florence during the terrible year of the plague, of which he has painted such a grim picture from hearsay. The loss of his father the following year devolved upon him the care of a younger brother, and the death of Fiam metta, which conjecturally soon followed, effec tually closed the period of youthful indiscretion.
A strong influence for good, which at this time came into his life, was the friendship of Te trarch, whom it fell to his lot to entertain when the poet visited Florence in 1350; and the first of a series of public missions intrusted to Boc caccio by the city had for its object to petition Petrarch to make Florence his home. During this period he was deeply interested in human istic studies. Ile busied himself with making copies of manuscripts of Terence and Apuleius, and resumed the study of Greek under Leonzio Pilato, for whom he secured a professorship at the University of Florence. At this time the revenues of the small estate left by Boccaccio's father failed to meet his necessities, and he went once more to Naples, drawn thither by the rose ate promises of Niecolo Acciajuoli, now Grand Seneschal; but the promises were not fulfilled. and, giving ear to the exhortations of a dying priest, he returned to Florence, fully intent upon taking religious orders and retiring from the world, but was etl'ectual]y dissuaded by Pet rarch. In 1373 he received the last and most fitting honor that Florence was destined to confer upon him in the form of a charge to expound the Com media in a series of public readings, for which he was to receive the yearly sum of 100 golden florins. It was practically the establishment of the first chair at any university for the study of Dante, and could not have been bestowed more worthily. The course was begun in October. but was soon interrupted. owing to failing health. Boccaccio retired to his small estate at Certaldo, where he died December 21, 1375.