Quick Facts
Biography
Antonio Abati (late 16th century-1667) was an Italian poet. We know that he was born in Gubbio, but the rest of his youthful biography is very vague. Abati was a satirical poet who wrote in the Baroque style. His book of nine satires was published in 1651.
Around 1640 he was at Rome as a member of various academies, among which that of gli Umoristi (the Humorist), where he read "Ragguagli di Parnasso" ("Comparison with Parnassus"), dedicated to the bad poets of the times. Between 1634 and 1638, Abati was in Viterbo, where he made the acquaintance of Salvator Rosa.
Biography
Leopold of Austria took him on as a poet laureate, then between 1640 and 1644 he travelled around the Netherlands and France, experiencing ups and downs, something he had opportunity to describe in one of his comedies: "Il Viaggio" ("The Voyage").
Returning to Italy, he obtained the protection of Cardinal Chigi, becoming governor of some villages of the Papal State (Grotte, Recanati and Frascati).
The last years of his life, he spent at a farm near Senigallia - given to him by the Grand Duchess of Tuscany – and here he died after a long period of disease.
He led a merry life, his activity was well rewarded and he had the protection of powerful men (among whom was Emperor Ferdinand III). The value of his poetry is definitely inferior to his celebrity.
Works
- "Frascherie", Venice (1651)
- "Il Cconsiglio degli dei" ("The Council of the Gods"), Bologna (1674) – composed in 1660