Giuseppe Marc'Antonio Baretti (April 24, 1719 - May 5, 1789) was an Italian critic. April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). ... // Events January 23 - The Principality of Liechtenstein is created within the Holy Roman Empire April 25 - Daniel Defoe publishes Robinson Crusoe June 10 - Battle of Glen Shiel Prussia conducts Europes first systematic census Miners in Falun, Sweden find an apparently petrified body of Fet-Mats Israelsson in an unused... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... A critic (from Greek κριτικός, kritikós - one who discerns, from Ancient Greek κριτής, krités, a judge) is a person who offers reasoned judgement or analysis, value judgement, interpretation, or observation. ...

Biography

Baretti was born at Turin. Turin (Italian: ; Piedmontese: Turin) is a major industrial city in north-western Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. ...

He was intended by his father for the profession of law, but at the age of sixteen fled from Turin and went to Guastalla, where he was for some time employed in a mercantile house. His leisure hours he devoted to literature and criticism, in which he became an expert. For many years he led a wandering life, supporting himself chiefly by his writings. At length he arrived in London, where he remained for a considerable time. He obtained an appointment as secretary to the Royal Academy of Painting, and became acquainted with Samuel Johnson, Garrick and others of that society. Guastalla is a commune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna. ... Old book bindings at the Merton College library. ... A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ... London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom, and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... Samuel Johnson circa 1772, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. ...

He was a frequent visitor at the Thrales; and his name occurs repeatedly in Boswell's Life. In 1769 he was tried for murder, having had the misfortune to inflict a mortal wound with his fruit knife on a man who had assaulted him on the street. Johnson among others gave evidence in his favour at the trial, which resulted in Baretti's acquittal. He died in May 1789. His first work of any importance was the Italian Library (1757), a useful catalogue of the lives and works of many Italian authors. The Lettere famigliari, giving an account of his travels through Spain, Portugal and France during the years 1761-1765, were well received, and when afterwards published in English (4 vols., 1770), were highly commended by Johnson. Hester Lynch Thrale by Sir Joshua Reynolds Hester Lynch Thrale (born Hester Lynch Salusbury and after her second marriage, Hester Lynch Piozzi ) (16 January 1741 (she mistakenly celebrated her own birthday on 27 January) - May 2, 1821) was a British diarist, author, and a friend and confidante of Samuel Johnson. ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1761 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1765 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

While in Italy on his travels Baretti set on foot a journal of literary criticism, to which he gave the title of Frusta letteraria, the literary scourge. It was published under considerable difficulties and was soon discontinued. Among his other numerous works may be mentioned a useful Dictionary and Grammar of the Italian Language, and a dissertation on Shakespeare and Voltaire. His collected works were published at Milan in 1838. Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese: Milán) is the main city of northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed region in Italy, being often mistaken with the capital of the country. ... | Jöns Jakob Berzelius, discoverer of protein 1838 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

The recantation of Galileo "eppur si muove" ("It does move" or "neverthless it moves") is first recorded by Baretti in his Italian Library. This recording is 125 years after it was supposed to have been said.

Bretti died in London in 1789.